The Farmer Wellness Initiative is a telehealth line that makes mental wellness support available to all Ontario farmers and farm families is now live. It provides access to free counselling services and tailored mental health support and resources. Farmers across Ontario and family members working on the farm have access to free counselling in English and French at 1-866-267-6255. 
We spoke to Bruce Buttar, Zone 12 Director OFA & Chair of the Farmer Wellness Initiative Advisory Committee, to discuss how the Farmer Wellness Initiative helps connect farmers with a support network rooted in rural Ontario. Support professionals are trained and have backgrounds in the ag industry to help support the unique needs of the farming community. 24 hours a Day. 7 Days a Week. 365 Days a Year. Additional resources can be found on the Farmer Wellness Initiative website and you can learn more by listening to our podcast episode here.
The Farmer Wellness Initiative is supported by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) – Ontario Division, in partnership with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). Counselling services provided by Telus Health. Paid for in part by the governments of Canada and Ontario and through the Canadian Agricultural Partnership (the Partnership), a five-year federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
To learn more about the Farmer Wellness Initiative including how to utilize their services visit their website.
CMHA Ontario is a not-for-profit charitable organization whose goal is to make resources and education available to all through their 28 Ontario branches. As an organization they are focused on creating a society that embraces mental health and works towards improving the lives of all Ontarians.
Trillium has donated $50,000 through our ROOTS Community Fund to the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario (CMHA) to support the roll out of the “In the Know” program. This program developed through the Ontario Veterinary College focuses on directly improving mental health literacy in agriculture. The ROOTS donation will help increase the programs accessibility across Ontario, in coordination with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, to ensure maximum outreach and benefit to rural communities.
The “In the Know” course is an evaluated mental health literacy training program for farmers and people who work with farmers that has been shown to increase participants’ mental health knowledge and confidence in recognizing mental health struggles, speaking about mental health, and helping others who are struggling. The course provides education on topics such as stress, depression, anxiety, substance misuse and how to start a conversation around mental well-being. CMHA Ontario will be working closely with the OFA, the province’s largest general farm organization, to ensure maximum outreach and benefit to Ontario’s agricultural community.
To learn more about the CMHA and their many program offerings or find a branch nearest to you visit their website.
For over 100 years, 4-H Ontario has focused on building leaders and equipping youth with the leadership and life skills they need to excel personally, in their education and career paths. Trillium Mutual Insurance is proud to announce a $50,000 donation to support 4-H Ontario’s: Taking Our Mental Health to Heart Program. This program will equip youth with the skills and knowledge to adapt to mental health challenges through hands-on learning. This donation provides 4-H Ontario the ability to develop and implement a long-term wellness program that will improve the mental health of over 6,000 youth across the province.
Youth can learn more about registering for 4-H Ontario by visiting their website.
WES for Youth provides incredible support to communities across Ontario using innovative digital solutions, they provide free online counselling services for youth ages 13-24. They have found that often times youth hesitate to reach out for help when using traditional face-to-face methods of counselling. Their confidential online platform allows youth to connect with a counsellor in a way they feel most comfortable. Through the Farm Mutual Re. Mutual Support Initiative, Trillium Mutual has donated $5,000 to support WES for Youth in providing free online counselling services to youth.
Since COVID-19 begun, the number of youth accessing WES for Youth’s services has tripled, to over 290. Having access to mental health resources during this time, is critical for many youth and Trillium Mutual believes that they can contribute by helping provide resources for those most in need. These online services allow youth to connect with qualified professional counsellors to discuss and explore issues that they are facing in a safe environment. Youth do not require a doctor’s referral to register for their service and due to the fact that counselling is offered online, they can access this service anywhere and anytime.
For more information on WES for Youth Online, including how to access their services, please visit their website.
Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health is a not-for-profit located in Goderich, Ontario that aims to improve the health and quality of life of rural residents. Their volunteers aim to advance rural health technology and community based research. This combination of research and community programs contributes to educating rural residents on topics related to health & wellness.
Trillium Mutual, through the Farm Mutual Re. Mutual Support Initiative, has donated $10,000 to Gateway Rural Health to expand their “Farmers Mental Health & Resiliency Project”. The “Farmers Mental Health & Resiliency Project” will empower the farming community, by increasing the awareness of available health services, providing support to curb the stigma attached to mental health and resiliency training. This project’s main objective is to strengthen and educate the farming community and will directly impact Huron-Perth & Grey-Bruce counties and their over 12,500 farmers. The project will mainly focus on “Shed Talks” which will bring various farm related speakers and topics to the community, along with health coaching to develop a network of agricultural leaders focused on healthy living. The program will engage and empower the agricultural community to begin asking questions surrounding their mental health and the role it plays in influencing their day to day actions.
Please visit their website to learn more about Gateway Rural Health and their incredible programs.
Family Counselling and Support Services (FCSSGW) provides a range of individual and group services throughout the Guelph-Wellington community. They are a premier provider of exceptional, affordable and discrete services within the community. Since its inception in 1964, Family Counselling and Support Services has been focused on supporting a growing number of families and individuals. FCSSGW operates a Distress Line, along with four mental health walk-in clinics, located in Fergus, Mount Forest and Harriston, where residents can receive support, while remaining
anonymous.
Since COVID-19 began they have seen a surge in the number of calls their distress line has received. Unfortunately, the technology being used to deliver these services was dated and prevented FCSSGW from delivering mental health support to as many people as possible. Trillium Mutual’s ROOTS Community Fund has donated $5,000 that will be used to support the development and increased accessibility of their rural programs and Distress Line.
To learn more about their support services and programs visit their website.
Children’s Health Foundation, founded in 1922, raises funds to ensure that children and their families across Western Ontario receive the best possible care and the most possible hope when faced with a life-threatening or life-limiting diagnosis. They have developed the First Episode Mood and Anxiety Program (FEMAP), which is a unique community-based mental health service for youth
(aged 16-25) across Southwestern Ontario.
Established in 2006, FEMAP has helped thousands of older teens and young adults with emotional concerns that fall into the categories of mood and/or anxiety symptoms. No physician referral is needed, and a full range of services are offered in a friendly and easily accessible facility. FEMAP offers a safe and confidential place for youth to get help early, before symptoms begin to disrupt their lives. Trillium Mutual Insurance has donated $10,000, through their ROOTS Community Fund, to help FEMAP add to their staff and expand the program into a second location.
To learn more about FEMAP visit their website here.