Drought has been an issue for farmers and ranchers since the first field was plowed and the first domesticated herd was rounded up. Along with drought comes the inevitable stress that adverse growing conditions can put on people. Recognition of how such stress is managed has changed over the years and the calls have grown […] Read more
Tag Archives mental health
Despair turns into kids’ book about mental health
After hitting rock bottom, including a suicide attempt, Sask. man writes book to help children with mentally ill parents
INDIAN HEAD, Sask. — It was a very dark night that eventually led Todd Rennebohm out into the light. In the middle of a drinking and smoking binge in his garage, Rennebohm began thinking about how his kids, then aged 10 and 12, viewed his emotional struggles. Rock bottom had come after many challenges with […] Read more
Mental health issues continue to be a struggle in agriculture
Mental health is an important issue for the agricultural community. As someone who struggles with my own mental health, I know it is a big problem that affects people in many ways. When you think of farming and agriculture, the words wheat, farmers, animals and food come to mind. People do not think about the […] Read more
Farmers offered mental health help
The eight-week Wellbeing Course is offered through the University of Regina’s Online Therapy Unit and tailored for ag
When Cynthia Beck faced her own mental health challenges on the farm, she discovered a lack of support for people in agriculture. Years later, she’s providing that needed support through her research as a clinical psychology master’s student at the University of Regina. “The people working in agriculture, that’s the population who feed us, and […] Read more
Farmer shares struggles with mental health
Lesley Kelly learned from her dad what it really means to be a successful farmer. “He told me that if you want to be successful, it isn’t about how much land you have or the type of equipment you drive,” she said. “It’s about how we work together, and how we take care of each […] Read more
Important to act on information about suicidal thoughts
Q: Last Thursday our daughter came home from school very upset. Apparently, one of her classmates took our daughter aside and told her that she was seriously considering suicide. The young girl in question insisted that our daughter swear confidence. This was to be a secret. In fact, our daughter tried to honour the commitment […] Read more
Mental health has economic roots
Prince Edward Island agriculture minister Bloyce Thompson said recently that more Island farmers are reaching out for mental health support through the P.E.I. Farmers Assistance Program. He noted that the number of calls in 2019 was 140, increasing to 293 in 2020. Thompson said navigating a hot, dry summer during the COVID-19 pandemic was difficult […] Read more
Exercise important way to fight depression
Q: Early last fall our son was discharged from the psychiatric unit of a larger hospital in the city. He was 32 at the time, old enough and mature enough to be on his own, but we were worried about his well-being and asked him to stay with us until he was more settled and […] Read more
Mental health app unveiled in Sask.
A recent demonstration shows how a program developed in the province can help farmers manage their stress levels
Avail: a mental health app was created with farmers and ranchers in mind. It’s a comprehensive and personalized health tool to encourage and help producers manage their stress. Aptly named, the mobile app was officially announced and demonstrated during a recent webinar. Bridges Health is a wellness firm based in Saskatoon with a focus on […] Read more
Governments must continue to improve supports for mental health
Government efforts to improve mental health supports for Canadians should be improved. Every year, Bell “Let’s Talk Day” is welcomed with kind messages from people, including politicians, encouraging folks to take care of themselves and each other. Agriculture minister Marie-Claude Bibeau did just that this Jan. 28. In a news release, Bibeau says workers in […] Read more
