The Ontario farm community needs accessible and culturally relevant mental health resources and training to promote wellness and build resilience to withstand the enormous occupational stresses they face.
The below are most of the resources we could find.
Please click and read through and send us feedback.
If you are in a crisis or any other person may be in danger please do not use this website, call 9-1-1 or visit your local Emergency services.
If you have questions about your specific symptoms or are looking for medical advice, please contact your family doctor or local health care facility.
Please note if you have questions about OHIP covered programs and health care in Ontario check out https://www.ontario.ca/page/health-care-ontario
Immediate Help
Accessible 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, in English and French, farmers can call 1-866-267-6255 to speak to a counsellor.
Developed and launched by the Canadian Mental Health Association – Ontario Division in partnership with the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, this service is provided by LifeWorks.
519-336-3445 or 1-800-307-4319 (toll-free)
519-336-3000 or 1-888-DISTRES (toll-free)
Website: www.familycounsellingctr.com
If you or someone is in crisis and feels like they are at risk of harm to self or someone else then please visit the emergency room at on of the Bluewater Health Sites.
Dial 2-1-1
- Free confidential service to connect you with local social services.
- Available 24/7
1-866-531-2600
- Free confidential resource to direct you to services, specializing in addiction, mental health and gambling issues.
- Available 24-7
ConnexOntario FAQ – What to Expect
Do I have to give my name?
- No, information and referral is a free and confidential service. We will ask you for non-identifying information (like your postal code). This helps us find services in your community. We will still help you if you don’t want to provide this information. We are funded by the Government of Ontario.
Do you provide counselling?
- We offer listening, support and information about counselling and other services in your community. We do not provide counselling.
What happens when I call the information and referral service?
- An Information and Referral Specialist answers your call 24/7.
- We will ask you for some non-identifying information like the name of your city or town.
- This helps us give you information about services where you live.
- We also listen, provide support, and offer strategies to help you get started.
- We are here to help you with information, not to judge.
Who can call?
- Anyone!
- You can call for yourself or for someone you care about.
- Almost 50% of our calls come from family members or concerned friends.
How can you help me?
- provide information about counselling services and supports in your community
- listen, offer support and provide strategies to help you meet your goals
- provide basic education about addictions services
I’m not ready to get help, can I still call you?
- We’re happy to talk to you, even if you’re just looking for general information. No question is too small. We’re here to help.
1-833-456-4566
- National network of existing distress, crisis and suicide prevention line services.
- Available 24/7
https://www.crisisservicescanada.ca/en/
Texting support also available:
- Text "Start" to 45645
- Available 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. ET
1-855-554-HEAL
- Culturally grounded, fully confidential helpline for Indigenous women available in 14 languages all across Ontario.
- Available 24/7
1-877-330-6366
- Trans-led organization that connects trans people to the community, support, and resources they need to survive and thrive.
- Available 24/7
Local Counselling Resources
Services children and youth and their families up to the age of 18.
- Individual therapy as well as group therapy is offered, along with a host of other services.
- They offer a walk-in clinic on Tuesday and Thursdays for families to receive immediate support
519-337-3701
www.stclairchild.ca
[email protected]
Providing family, couple, and individual counselling services (free, subsidized, and fee for service).
Specific programs include:
- Violence Against Women - free counselling for anyone who has experienced physical or sexual abuse in an intimate relationship.
- Starting Point - a program to assist children and families when residential treatment may be required.
- Respite for children with ASD (Autism).
- Special Services at Home (SSAH) - a program to assist families and children who experience disability. -- Relief services, trusteeship, transitional support as a teen prepares for adulthood
519-336-0120
www.familycounsellingctr.com
- Free supports to family/caregivers of individuals with mental health challenges.
- Peer support group / law and advocacy / family education program.
519-344-5602
www.lmwc.ca
CMHA has numerous regional sites around Sarnia-Lambton to service those in need.
Programs include:
- RAIT (Rapid Assessment Intervention and Treatment)
- Individual Counselling Services
- Supportive Housing for those experiencing mental illness and homelessness
- Concurrent Disorders Program
518-337-5411
http://lambtonkent.cmha.ca
Counselling (both individual and group) available to women who have experienced domestic abuse.
519-336-5200
Ontario-based Therapist Services
Call: (519) 496-1584
Visit: www.bonnietaylorcounselling.com
15 Westmount Road South, Waterloo, Ontario N2L, Canada
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 905-631-9991
Address: 2319 Fairview St. Unit 604, Burlington, ON L7R 2E3
Website: www.cindyshrigley.com
Phone: 519-336-1329
Address: 215 Mitton Street, North, Sarnia, N7T 6H5
Call: 1-613-985-7233
Email: [email protected]
Visit: cultivatecounselling.com
116 John Street (2nd floor), Napanee, ON
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.healingconversations.ca
Phone: 1-844-934-3578
Address: 465 Morden Road, Suite 206, Oakville, ON, L6K 3R9
Website: https://www.myinnercalm.ca/
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 519-331-8113
Address: Unit 108, 155 Front St N Sarnia N7T 7V5
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 519-326-7100
Address: 11 Talbot St.W. Leamington, ON, N8H 1M3
Website: http://www.maureenlewis.com/index.html
Phone: 519-833-2405 or 1-855-796-7790
Website: mdoriscounsellingservices.com
Phone: 705-999-7916
Address: 311 George St. N Lower Lever 5, Peterborough ON, K9J 3H3
Call: 1-905-484-4412
Email: [email protected]
Visit: realsolutions4life.com
99 Cove Crescent, Stoney Creek, ON L8E 5A3
Website: https://www.lindahochstetler.com
Call: 1-226-402-4504
Email: [email protected]
Visit: wscounselling.com
3028 Kimball Road Courtright ON Canada N0N1H0
Online General Counselling Resources
- Free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry.
- BEACON is digital therapy that's personalized and guided by a registered mental health professional.
- Guided digital therapy with BEACON is now available free of charge during COVID-19 through the Ontario government.
- Provides wellness and emotional support for youth online in a safe, secure, and confidential manner.
- They also ensure youth have access to free, online, professional counselling.
- They value support, community, trustworthiness, innovation, and co-creation in their charity.
- Access to licensed, trained, experienced, and accredited psychologists (PhD / PsyD), marriage and family therapists (LMFT), clinical social workers (LCSW / LMSW), and board licensed professional counsellors.
- Counselling is available online and through an app.
- Canadian based company that offers completely digital personalized mental health services.
- Inkblot also offers mental health services for businesses, through creating a mental health strategy and offering resources
- Connect with a matching therapist and communicate through laptop, tablet or smart phone.
- An app is also available.
Peer Support Groups
519-344-5602
www.lmwc.ca
Free phone based program, which provides a way for older adults to stay connected to each other.
Phone: 519-882-1470 ext. 5007 or 1-800-565-3890 ext. 5007
Email: [email protected]
Visit: https://www.lambtoncares.ca/lambton-county-connects/about-lambton-county-connects/
- Confidential peer support for first responders
- Available 24/7
Toll free number 1-833-677-2668
- Online peer-to-peer support community for your mental health
Free service that provides regular phone calls to seniors, people with disabilities and people living alone or with their families/caregivers.
Check out the Tel-Check referral form and brochure.
To make a referral, call Donna Martin at 519-336-0120 ext. 251 (call and leave a message)
Agriculture Related Resources
- Lists mental health resources available nationally but also by province.
https://www.domore.ag/resources
Training and Education
MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.ca
APPLIED SUICIDE INTERVENTION SKILLS TRAINING
www.livingworks.net
SAFETALK
www.livingworks.net
CRISIS AND TRAUMA RESOURCE INSTITUTE
ca.ctrinstitute.com
TOUGH ENOUGH TO TALK ABOUT IT
www.sp-rc.ca
CALM IN THE STORM
www.calminthestormapp.com
As part of the report on Healthy Minds, Healthy Farms: Exploring the Connection Between Mental Health and Farm Business Management, Farm Management Canada has developed a media kit filled with easy-to-use resources for promoting mental health awareness in agriculture.
Click here to preview and download the media kit: https://fmc-gac.com/mh-media-kit/
Collection of resources curated for the all of those involved in agriculture in Ontario
http://www.omafra.gov.on.ca/english/about/mental-health.htm
The following three resources are from the OMAFRA Toolkit
- Farm Financial Assessment provides a review of a farm's financial performance. -- Can be contacted through 1-877-424-1300 or emailed at [email protected]
- Farm Debt Mediation Service offers financial counselling and mediation services. -- Can be contacted through 1-866-452-5556 or http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/programs-and-services/farm-debt-mediation-service/?id=1536081857309
- Farm Animal Welfare Helpline is provided by Farm and Food Care Ontario to assist people in providing good care for their farm animals. -- Calls received by the service are given to the appropriate commodity group(s) for follow-up. Can be contacted through 519-837-1326 or https://www.farmfoodcareon.org/farm-animal-care/
- Lists mental health resources for farmers in Ontario
- Also includes a Farm Stress Inventory assessment and a Farm Stress Management Plan
https://www.ontariobeef.com/services/wellness-on-the-farm.aspx
- News, Events, Support & Resources.
- Awareness – Helping to promote the idea that it is okay to ask for help when you are struggling. Many people struggle with similar issues and it is ok to ask for help.
- Prevention – We will provide resources such as articles, videos, webinars, workshops, and techniques to help our farmer-members manage the issues they are dealing with.
- A list of psychologist and social workers that are practising in Ontario, and have a farming background or experience in the industry.
- By clicking on each practitioner you can read their bio and see information regarding their practice. If no practitioner is in your area, most listed offer other methods of communication such as video chat, email and phone calls.
- Resources and infographics
https://www.ontariopork.on.ca/Producers/Mental-Health-Resources
- Wellness Tips
https://www.fcc-fac.ca/en/community/wellness/tips.htm
- For veterinarians in Ontario
- Platform to equip Ontario veterinarians with knowledge and strategies to help them better cope with and respond to the challenges they face in their professional and personal lives.
- Available to all farmers
- Hosted by P.E.I. Federation of Agriculture
- Available for November 2020
- You can attend a collection of online health-related seminars encouraging sustainable practices for your farm’s most valuable asset; YOU!
- This free webinar series has been created to address the current mental and physical health of farm workers in the province.
More information and registration is available at https://peifa.ca/building-a-sustainable-farmer/
Other Resources
Website designed to point people to different resources available in Sarnia-Lambton.
- There are three CAMH sites in Toronto, to access a majority of these services, patients require a referral form completed by a physician or nurse practitioner
- Free downloadable crisis support contact info for a wide variety of topics and geographic locations
- A searchable database for “mental health resources, help and support” in Ontario
The province has also established a Mental Health and Addictions COVID-19 Response Table, led by the Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence at Ontario Health, to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 on access to public mental health and addictions services.
- Internet-based Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (iCBT): Clients can self-refer to programs through the various service providers listed and be guided through their client journey to find the appropriate supports they need. Online iCBT is supported by therapists and available in English and French.
- Supports for frontline health care workers: Online iCBT is available to frontline health care workers experiencing anxiety, burnout or post-traumatic stress disorder. Those requiring intensive levels of care could be referred to virtual face-to-face care, as well as weekly online peer discussion groups and access to confidential support from a clinician.
- Virtual mental health support services: These include BounceBack telephone coaching and workbooks, and Kids Help Phone for children and youth.
At Ontario.ca/coronavirus, people can find information about the different virtual mental health and wellness options that meet their unique needs, including online therapy.
- The Hotline accepts calls from Monday to Friday between 9:30 a.m. and 11:30 a.m., and between 1:00 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
- Service provided by Pro Bono Ontario
1-855-255-7256
- Government-provided access to legal aid.
- Accessible online or by phone.
- Help in over 300 languages
- Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
1-800-668-8258
Based out of Guelph Ontario, Life Voice offers training in:
- Mental Health First Aid
- Compassion Fatigue
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training)
- safeTALK
- The “ASK” Workshop (Assessing for Suicide in Kids trainings)
- Not-for-profit organization committed to protecting Ontario workers and businesses.
- The website has information about workplace safety training, products, consultations and resources
Ontario Federation of Agriculture Videos
TED Talks
Podcasts, Radio & Webinars
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Bell Let’s Talk from Mind Your Farm Business
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201122 Rural Spark – Mental health on the family farm
Difficult Times: Stress on the Farm
This resource enables farm families to understand stress, its impact, and learn skills to help balance stress when farming in difficult times.
Author/Organization: Agricultural Health and Safety Network
Date: 2006
Downloadable Apps
- Meditation app
- App for meditation and sleep.
- Relaxation, sleep sound and mediation app
- App designed to help you combat depression and alleviate your negative moods, aiding you on your road to recovery.
- Self care journal, mood and activity tracker app
Further Information
- Non-profit, charitable organization committed to making mental health possible for all.
- Provides information, resources and programs relating to mental health and addiction.
- Provides comparable and actionable data and information that are used to accelerate improvements in health care.
- Mission to advance research, knowledge and the application of psychology in the service of society through advocacy, support and collaboration.
- Professional association for psychiatrists, and provides information about how to find and access help from psychiatrists
- A person with a co-occurring disorder has been diagnosed with a substance abuse disorder and another mental health disorder.
- Co-occurring disorders, sometimes called dual disorders, are best treated through integrated treatment that addresses both issues at the same time.
https://www.ridgefieldrecovery.com/treatments/co-occurring-disorders/
- Part of several initiatives, undertaken with other health-care organzations across Canada, that seek to increase access to high-quality mental health services.
- Resource with an online magazine, articles and information pertaining to seeking help.
- Database that includes resources for staff and management on the prevention, intervention and accommodation of mental health problems in the workplace.
Disclaimer
- The information on this website is provided for information purposes only. It is not intended to provide medical, legal or professional advice.
- The website and the content are provided "as is".
- Please note the inclusion of an organization and information does not imply endorsement, nor does exclusion indicate lack of endorsement.
If there is a resource you think should be included in this list, please contact us.