ROCKY VIEW COUNTY — A pilot launching this week in Rocky View County will connect farmers, farm families and those working in agriculture with therapists who understand farm life.
The AgWell Farmer Wellness Network was developed in response to the often unseen pressures facing farmers, such as increasing costs, unpredictable weather, market swings, succession planning, and limited access to health care services.
And due to cultural norms, expectations, and a lack of support, farmers often struggle to talk about stress, says project sponsor and Rocky View farmer Larry Woolliams. “It can get dark, it can feel alone,” he says.
The program provides short-term counselling through a network of therapists, some of whom are farmers themselves, and who are familiar with the realities of farm life. Participants from Rocky View County can access up to five sessions at no cost, and no referral is required.
It was developed by AgWell, a University of Alberta initiative based at the Augustana Campus that focuses on farmer mental health. “Our goal is to make support easier to access in a way that fits real farm life,” says lead researcher Rebecca Purc-Stephenson. “This program was built in collaboration with farmers, so it reflects the realities they face every day.”
The project is modelled after similar programs run in other provinces by the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing, with the researchers adapting it to fit Alberta’s context.
The Rocky View County pilot is the first step to expanding access to practical, agriculture-informed support across Alberta.
To speak with Purc-Stephenson and Woolliams, please contact:
Riley Tjosvold | University of Alberta communications coordinator | riley.tjosvold@ualberta.ca