News Farming Community
AgKnow receives funding to support Alberta farmers’ mental health

Farm families have improved access to mental health services and resources thanks to more support for the AgKnow Alberta Farm Mental Health Network.

Farm life can be extremely demanding, with unpredictable challenges that affect the mental health and well-being of everyone in the family. 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.

“Alberta farmers can feel immense pressures to support their families and to continue extensive family farm legacies,” says Linda Hunt Pag, program director, AgKnow. “Through AgKnow, we’re de-stigmatizing farm mental health and making it easier for farmers to access therapy and counselling designed with their lifestyles in mind. With this grant, we’ll be able to expand our programming and develop more educational resources so therapists and counsellors across Alberta can better understand and serve farmers.”

This funding is provided through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) which is helping Alberta build a stronger and more resilient agricultural sector for generations to come.

This funding will build on the work AgKnow is doing to raise awareness and support mental health. This includes developing, promoting and delivering:

• More evidence-based mental health programs, tools and learning resources to help farm families and farming communities thrive
• Education and learning resources to help therapists, health care providers and community service organizations understand farm culture, the issues farmers face and the supports available to address mental health concerns

Sustainable CAP is a 5-year (2023-28), $3.5-billion investment by federal, provincial and territorial governments to strengthen competitiveness, innovation and resiliency in the agriculture, agri‐food and agri‐based products sector.