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Saskatchewan’s Farm Stress Line is under new management.
According to the Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture, the service will be managed by the SaskAgMatters Mental Health Network, beginning Wednesday, “as part of a coordinated mental health support system for Saskatchewan producers, their family members and their employees.”
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The ministry said the new partnership will see producers offered 24/7 access to a confidential crisis line, allowing them to speak to counsellors trained in agriculture and book follow-up sessions with registered mental-health professionals in the province who also have agricultural backgrounds.
The services will be funded jointly by the provincial and federal governments, with a $200,000 annual investment, the ministry added. The contact number – 1-800-667-4442 – will remain unchanged.
Producers are invited to call the line to discuss issues including financial stress, family pressure, anxiety, depression, burnout or concerns about another person’s mental health.
“This partnership ensures that when members of our agricultural community reach out, they are connected with a mental health professional who truly understands their reality,” Heath MacDonald, Canada’s agriculture minister, said in a statement.
David Marit, Saskatchewan’s agriculture minister, said those in the industry often face difficult, stressful conditions.
“They need support from mental health professionals who understand the industry and who will ensure confidentiality for those who reach out,” Marit said in a statement.
“The Farm Stress Line has a proud history of supporting the agricultural community, and these improved services will help protect the health of people working in the sector.”
In addition to managing Saskatchewan’s stress line, the ministry said SaskAgMatters is also forging a partnership with the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing in order to provide support to producers through the National Farmer Crisis Line.
“SaskAgMatters was founded to break down the barriers that Saskatchewan farm families face when trying to get help,” said Cynthia Beck, the organization’s co-founder and board chair.
“We have removed the time and stress involved in finding a mental health professional and cover the financial cost of these services. Our counsellors offer flexible appointment times and will meet by telephone or virtually.”
