Calls for 24-7 mental health crisis line for agriculture sector as stress levels soar with drought
Alberta NDP agriculture critic Heather Sweet capped off a four day tour of southern Alberta Thursday, by calling on the UCP government to implement a 24-7 Mental Health Crisis Line specifically for people working in the ag-sector.
“There’s a stigma around mental health generally,” said Sweet. “We must break it and we must address it.”
The NDP also renewed their proposal for the government to provide five insured mental health sessions for all Albertans.
Sweet has been touring central and southern Alberta this week, to hear directly from farmers and ranchers about how they are being impacted by this summer’s drought.
“It has hit all parts of our agricultural sector,” added Sweet.
Coaldale farmer Tory Campbell said he is lucky to be living his dream life as a farmer, but added it’s not always easy.
“I’ve sat next to a grain bin that has bugs in it, and I’ve cried,” said Campbell. He said people sometimes overestimate the resilience of farmers or ranchers.
“I’ve watched as a north wind carried away my canola crop, a west wind shattered my wheat, a south wind ravaged my flax crop.”
Grasshoppers in southern Alberta, August 12, 2021
Campbell said he has stayed awake at night, thinking about how he was going to make the business work, “I know that what I’ve seen and lost pales in comparison to the struggles that many others have faced.”
Campbell, also a Lethbridge County councillor, said rural municipalities and farm groups have been calling for a 24-7 mental health line for agriculture for a few years.
“As a farmer and a local councillor, I know implementing this is more important than ever,” he added.
DO MORE AGRICULTURE FOUNDATION
The Do More Agriculture Foundation is a national charity that addresses mental health in agriculture and is currently working to implement a 24/7 mental health crisis line called AgTalk.
Adelle Stewart is the executive director of the Do More Agriculture Foundation.
“Producers in Alberta and all across Canada experience higher rates of mental illness than almost any other industry,” she said.
Steward added the province lacks access to agriculture specific mental health support and research shows that farmers are more likely to get help for mental health from someone who understands the industry.
“Agriculture producers need us to come together and offer this program in efforts to fulfill the national recommendations, save lives, and improve the quality of lives for farmers before we lose one more.”
Sweet suggested the challenges of the drought warrant more, and quicker action by the provincial government.
Campbell said while the struggle is real now, the impact will be lasting, and could put a bigger strain on many producers.
“This is something we will be seeing for a number of years. We are going to see seed stocks depleted. We are going to need ample moisture to replenish the reserves that we’ve exhausted.”
The Rural Municipalities of Alberta passed a resolution in the spring of 2019 calling for a mental health crisis hotline.
Campbell said the government wasn’t willing to invest the funds at that time, but rural leaders consider it a very simple, straightforward request.
“We think that it’s a very doable ask, and we think its something that needs to be taken care of sooner, rather than later.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NEW After hearing thousands of last words, this hospital chaplain has advice for the living
Hospital chaplain J.S. Park opens up about death, grief and hearing thousands of last words, and shares his advice for the living.
BREAKING Police cordon off Iran consulate in Paris where man threatens to blow himself up: French media
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris on Friday, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Europe 1 radio and BFM TV.
Some Canadian families will receive up to $620 per child today
More money will land in the pockets of some Canadian families on Friday for the latest Canada Child Benefit installment.
BREAKING Iran fires at apparent Israeli attack drones near Isfahan air base and nuclear site
An apparent Israeli drone attack on Iran saw troops fire air defences at a major air base and a nuclear site early Friday morning near the central city of Isfahan, an assault coming in retaliation for Tehran's unprecedented drone-and-missile assault on the country.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
Ottawa to force banks to call carbon rebate a carbon rebate in direct deposits
Canadian banks that refuse to identify the carbon rebate by name when doing direct deposits are forcing the government to change the law to make them do it, says Environment Minister Steven Guilbeault.
Ontario woman loses $15,000 to fake Walmart job scam
A woman who recently moved to Canada from India was searching for a job when she got caught in an online job scam and lost $15,000.
After COVID, WHO defines disease spread 'through air'
The World Health Organization and around 500 experts have agreed for the first time on what it means for a disease to spread through the air, in a bid to avoid the confusion early in the COVID-19 pandemic that some scientists have said cost lives.
Prince Harry formally confirms he is now a U.S. resident
Prince Harry, the son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the British throne, has formally confirmed he is now a U.S. resident.