(Rural Roots Canada) – Farming can be isolating, and mental health challenges can often go unnoticed, but Do More Ag is working to change that with its AgTalk platform.
The 24/7 online peer support platform allows farmers to connect with others facing similar struggles, helping to plant the seeds of mental wellness.
Lesley Kelly, with Do More Ag, emphasizes the importance of small, daily actions for improving mental wellness.
“Sometimes we think of mental wellness as this big thing on our to-do list and, as a farmer, that can be overwhelming,” she says. “But, what I’ve learned through family and other farmers is we can plant these seeds through connection, communication, conversation, and the care that we can do every day that will help with our mental health and mental wellness.”
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Recognizing mental health challenges is also crucial. According to Kelly, signs to watch for include intense emotions, behaviours lasting more than two weeks, and struggles impacting relationships or responsibilities. Asking a simple question — are you okay? — might be enough to plant that seed.
“They might not open up in that moment but they might open up five minutes later, or five hours later, or five days or five years later, but we keep planting those seeds.”
To learn more about the AgTalk platform, you can visit the Do More Ag website.
AgTalk is sponsored by BASF, RBC and the McCain Foundation.
