REGINA – Farmers in financial or personal crises can get free or cheap help under various federal and provincial programs.
Representatives from three areas outlined what they could offer during a panel session at the Saskatchewan Women’s Agricultural Network conference.
The federal government’s new Farm Debt Mediation and Consultation Services has proved popular, said regional assistant deputy manager Wendy Collinge. The mediation side helps farmers in financial trouble come to a mutual agreement with their creditors. Collinge said it covers operating loans for farmland and machinery and also household assets.
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The consultation side allows farmers to buy advice about their farm management, economics or land transfer questions. The advice is unbiased, said Collinge, and comes from the services’ field experts who are usually present or former farmers: “We’re not your banker, we’re not your accountant.”
Business is booming so much that the service hopes to double its field experts from the present 35 in Saskatchewan and 11 in Manitoba and 13 mediators in both provinces.
Since April 1, 256 farmers have used the debt mediation and 361 the consultant service – 80 percent of them in Saskatchewan and 20 percent in Manitoba. There is a $100 application fee to the service. Call 800-667-7158.
An understanding ear is the main appeal of Saskatchewan’s farm stress line, said counsellor Betty Abrey, who farms at Imperial, Sask. The seven-year-old line, 800-667-4442, is the only one of its kind on the Prairies and is funded by the provincial government. It uses people with farm backgrounds to counsel those who call in with social, emotional and financial problems. Abrey said an equal number of men and women phone in. Last year about half the calls, 444, were about finances and bankruptcy.
“This spring there’s going to be a lot of calls because of input costs,” said Abrey. “Things are tight now and people are dealing with collection agencies over chemicals, elevator and fuel bills. … A lot of people have not even paid for last year’s inputs.
“A lot of people are kind of resigned to the fact saying ‘what can you do about it.’ Really it’s a sad situation out there.”
Saskatoon psychologist Nikki Gerrard said rural people can find free help at their health district mental health services. She said people should be prepared to shop around and even go to another district to find a counsellor who fits their personality.
Gerrard advised women not to drag their husbands to a counsellor because either he won’t show up for the appointment or will resist any suggestions made. The exceptions are for the severely psychotic and those who might harm themselves or others.
Because of the stigma attached to mental illness, most people only go to a counsellor when they are hurting badly or can’t function in daily life.
“I’m a strong proponent of staying away from mental health (counselling) as long as you can. I believe there is a strong daily support network in our families and communities. It’s best to get things figured out in the context of where you live.”
