AgKnow has partnered with AgSafe Alberta to host an In the Know workshop, a virtual mental health literacy course. In the Know is designed to help you learn about mental health and illness, promote well-being in your life, how to recognize when someone is struggling, and how to respond.
At the end of this webinar, you will be able to:
Describe stress, anxiety, depression, acute trauma, suicide and substance abuse
Recognize signs and symptoms of mental distress
Describe approaches for engaging in safe conversations about mental health with someone who may be struggling
Identify appropriate people and/or organizations that can provide help/support/resources for someone who may be struggling
The course has been developed specifically for farmers and evaluated by researchers at the University of Guelph.
About the Training
The workshop was developed in collaboration with stakeholder groups, including various agricultural sectors, mental health literacy trainers, government and representatives from social work, psychology, epidemiology, and education.
AgSafe Alberta has locally trained facilitators to deliver this in-person and virtual four-hour workshop who relate to the challenges that the farming community experiences in Alberta.
Alison Varga CT, CCC, MCP
About the Facilitator
Alison is a certified therapist and has been working for the past 15 years within the addictions and mental health field. Growing up in Okotoks, she developed a passion for the agricultural industry from a young age. She got her first horse when she was 10 and worked on a small farm to pay for her horse's keep, learning about all the challenges faced by farmers every season of the year. This experience led Alison to purchasing a farm just west of Calgary in 2014 and, despite her experience growing up, it has been a steep learning curve! One thing that has been motivating for Alison has been the community members around her who have regularly stepped up to help each other, yet not always prioritising their own mental health and well-being. All these experiences resulted in Alison pursuing the opportunity to work with AgSafe to present the In The Know workshops. It is through these workshops that Alison hopes to encourage and promote ongoing wellness in all farming communities.