The Agricultural Research and Extension Council of Alberta is receiving $388,500 to generate awareness and expand mental health research and supports available to farmers through AgKnow. The AgKnow Alberta Farmer Mental Health Network was established in 2022 with a $524,500 Canadian Agricultural Partnership (CAP) grant. The funding will build on the work AgKnow is doing…
Read MoreBy Dr. Rebecca Purc-Stephenson for the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network We’ve all felt anxious at one point or another in our lives. It’s a very normal reaction to stress. It’s feeling worried, panicked, fearful, and uneasy about a future concern. We might even feel faint, sweaty like our heart is racing, or we have…
Read MoreThe University of Alberta is partnering with AgKnow, the Alberta Farm Mental Health Network, to conduct a study on the health and well-being of Alberta farmers and ranchers. Farmers, ranchers, and anyone who lives or works on a farm can participate in this online survey, which will cover what they find stressful about their work,…
Read MoreClay’s farm isn’t doing well, and he says he hasn’t been able to finish his daily jobs. He’s not going to the coffee shop or texting friends anymore. If you have a friend like Clay, step up and offer your support. Clay is the agriculture persona for Buddy Up, a men’s suicide prevention communication campaign….
Read MoreDespite growing awareness of mental health in the agriculture community, stigma is still a barrier to finding support. The 2019 Report of the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food found that 45 per cent of Canadian farmers were experiencing high levels of stress. However, 45 per cent stated that even if they needed help they…
Read MoreBy Dylana Twittey, The Gateway – The Official Student Publication at the University of Alberta Research by a University of Alberta professor aims to help combat high levels of stress, depression and suicide in Alberta’s farming and agriculture industry. The research is being done by Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, a professor in the department of social sciences…
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