More support for agriculture program

Mental health supports for the farming community are expanding.

The province is committing another $385,000 to the ‘In the Know’ program.

It’s a a mental health literacy program tailored to support the well-being of the farming community.

Ontario’s Agriculture and Rural Affiars Minister, Lisa Thompson, says the money will support a peer-to-peer initiative.

“That will help people in need, whether its farmers, families, farm workers with talking through and understanding that’s it is ok to ask for help and most importantly supports are in place to do just that,” said Thompson.

The ‘In the Know’ initiative is supported through the 16 Canadian Mental Health Association branches in rural and agricultural communities.

It was originally developed by Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton and her team at University of Guelph with funding from OMAFRA. And it was to help farmers learn more about mental health issues including how to detect them in themselves and others, ways to cope with stress and how to seek support and direct others towards support.

Read original story from Midwestern Ontario News – BlackburnNews.com