Farmer Wellness Program On Pace for Record Year of Demand

Program officials say 570 free counselling sessions had been delivered by the end of August, already putting the service on pace to surpass the 750 sessions provided throughout all of last year.

Chair Roberta Galbraith says both the number of people accessing the program and the number of counselling sessions being used are increasing.

“We’re seeing more people connect with the program, and they’re continuing their counselling journeys once they get started,” she said.

The program provides up to nine free counselling sessions for Manitoba farmers and farm workers through counsellors who have experience and knowledge of agricultural life and its unique pressures.

Officials say increased awareness of the service and a continued decline in the stigma surrounding mental health have helped fuel the growth. The program now serves roughly four times as many people as it did when it launched in 2022.

This year’s challenging conditions, including dust storms, difficult harvest weather, tariff concerns and fluctuating fuel prices, may also be contributing factors, although Galbraith says personal and family issues often play just as significant a role as farm-related stress.

To help meet demand, the organization added another counsellor this year and expanded its roster of professionals. It also partnered with the Canadian Centre for Agricultural Wellbeing to launch a 24-hour crisis line for farmers needing immediate support.

The crisis line connects callers with trained professionals and can also refer them directly to Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program counsellors for ongoing care after the immediate crisis has passed.

Program leaders say they will continue adding resources if demand grows, ensuring wait times remain manageable while farmers across the province can access support when they need it most.