Farmers Gain Access to Vital Counseling Services

Taking care of your mental health is critical and farmers across the prairies are as vulnerable as any other industry, maybe even more so when you consider how stressful the industry can be. 

Farmers in Manitoba now have greater access to vital mental health resources thanks to the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program (MFWP), which offers no-cost counseling to farmers, their families, and employees over the age of 16.  

The program, which launched three years ago, was created to fill a growing need for long-term mental health support tailored specifically to those in the agricultural sector. Gerry Friesen, CAO of the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program explains what it is all about. 

"In simple terms, it’s a program that offers no-cost counseling to farmers, their families over the age of 16, and employees. It was important for us to address a gap. We've had the Manitoba Farm and Rural Stress Line for years, but we recognized the need for something more long-term." 

MFWP provides up to nine free counseling sessions, with a key focus on ensuring that counselors have a background in agriculture.