In a candid conversation, Gerry Friesen, a farmer and advocate for mental health in the agricultural community, shed light on the Manitoba Farm Wellness program (MFWP). This initiative offers free counselling services to farmers and their families and now extends its support to employees. Friesen, often known as the Recovering Farmer, shared insights into the program’s evolution, its crucial role in addressing mental health challenges, and the unique stressors faced by farmers.
The Manitoba Farm Wellness program, born nearly two years ago, emerged as a response to the increasing mental health struggles within the farming community. Friesen highlighted the program’s not-for-profit nature and mission to provide free counselling services. The initiative has garnered tremendous support from businesses, agricultural companies, individuals, and community groups, enabling them to hire counsellors with agricultural backgrounds.
One key aspect that sets the Manitoba Farm Wellness program apart is its focus on hiring counsellors with a deep understanding of the agricultural world. Friesen emphasized the need for counsellors who can grasp farmers’ unique stressors. Primary stressors are the financial burden of high crop expenses, fluctuating commodity prices, and the looming threat of diseases like Avian Flu and African Swine Flu. Friesen underscored the additional layer of stress that comes with caring for livestock, where emotional bonds with animals make losses and illnesses particularly impactful.

Friesen detailed some key stressors unique to farmers going into 2024 while in the Manitoba Farm Wellness booth at this year’s Manitoba Ag Days in Brandon, MB, on January 17. “I just read an article that last year was the most expensive crop ever, and someone said this morning that commodity prices are softening,” said Friesen. “I’ve talked to many poultry producers who have dealt with the avian flu over the last couple of years, and that’s been devastating for them.”
He shared how hog producers have concerns about African Swine Flu entering Manitoba and how devastating that will be. Those are all things outside the farmer’s control, which are incredibly stressful. But then there are things that farmers can control.
“Farmers make decisions daily. And they sometimes say you’re only one decision away from a completely different life. And I know from my experience farming that’s also true.”
Then, the effects often are those that affect their relationships and their bodily health.
“We start coping unhealthily, and that leads to unsafe behaviours. And it just snowballs. And I know from experience that talking to a counsellor can be very helpful.”
Friesen, also known as the Recovering Farmer, has a rich background that includes farming and later becoming a stress and conflict management specialist. He openly discussed his journey, dealing with anxiety and depression. Friesen’s experience with mental health challenges, combined with his conflict resolution and counselling training, uniquely positions him to assist others.
Friesen highlighted the importance of being proactive in addressing mental health. Drawing from his journey, he emphasized the need to stay aware of one’s mental well-being and adopt tools to maintain mental health. The Recovering Farmer provided insights into the continuous, ebbs-and-flows nature of mental health, urging individuals to manage their mental well-being proactively.
Friesen acknowledged the heightened stress in livestock farming due to farmers’ emotional connection with their animals. The devastation caused by diseases or losses adds an emotional layer to the already demanding nature of agriculture. Friesen stressed the importance of seeking counselling support when coping mechanisms become unhealthy, leading to unsafe behaviours.
The Manitoba Farm Wellness Program strives to be a beacon of support for farmers and their families. The program offers no-cost, short-term counselling delivered by professionals with agricultural backgrounds. It ensures confidentiality, allowing individuals to seek help anonymously. The program covers the cost of six counselling sessions per individual, aiming to alleviate financial concerns associated with seeking mental health support.
In conclusion, he highlighted the importance of mental health discussions in the agricultural community. As the conversation concluded, Friesen’s commitment to helping others navigate mental health challenges stood out, emphasizing the role of the Manitoba Farm Wellness program as a lifeline for those in the farming community. •
— By Harry Siemens