Between tariffs, rough weather, and dry conditions, it’s no wonder Manitoba farmers are feeling the pressure.
The good news? They’ve got someone to talk to.
The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program has been around for three years now, and it’s all about supporting farmers' mental health.
CAO Gerry Friesen says it started when they realized traditional healthcare just wasn’t cutting it for the ag community.
"The fact that farming is unique, and has unique stressers, we set this up in such a way that it is very simple, very low wait times - we can normally get clients in within two weeks maximum. But really the significant part that makes this worthwhile is the fact that the counsellors that we have all have a significant understanding of agriculture."
From his own experiences as a former farmer, Friesen knows that taking that first step to seek help can be difficult.
But he stresses that it is "Okay to not be okay," and that "you are not alone".
To book an appointment to speak to a Manitoba Farmer Wellness councillor, you can go to their website www.manitobafarmerwellness.ca.
