New initiative to promote farmer mental health launched

The Canadian government is looking for new ways to help the mental health of farmers across the country, and has launched the Producer Mental Wellbeing Initiative (PMWI) to find “collaborative solutions that employ novel strategies” to do just that.

Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, announced the three-year, $3-million initiative on March 6. It will be delivered by AAFC in partnership with the Privy Council Office’s Impact Canada. The PMWI aims to bring forward collaborative solutions that use creative, data-based approaches to help improve the wellbeing of producers; reduce the stigma around mental health in agriculture; raise awareness; and offer the support producers need, when they need it.

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“Our producers do so much for us — often making personal sacrifices so they can deliver their top-quality products,” said MacAulay in a press release. “Their mental health should not be something they have to sacrifice. Through this new initiative, we’re giving Canadians an opportunity to come up with new solutions for producer mental wellbeing that will help reduce stigma and improve access to tailored support.”

The PMWI is now open for application intake until June 3, 2025. For-profit organizations, not-for-profit organizations and individuals registered to do business in Canada are encouraged to apply.

The initiative will use a three-stage approach to move innovators through the process of proposing, developing and implementing their solutions. At each stage, a jury, made up of subject matter experts, will recommend which innovative solutions move to the next stage and receive funding. Two grand prize winners will ultimately receive up to $500,000 each to scale their solutions, grow their impact and increase the potential to support the wellbeing of more producers across the country.

Key stressors for producers include climate change, isolation, stigma and the physical and emotional demands of farming, says the PMWI website. Anxiety, depression and stress from financial uncertainty, weather unpredictability and the unique pressures of managing farm operations were also cited as significant mental health challenges faced by farmers.