RedFern Farm Services is partnering with the Westman Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Association to help bring counselling support to the Westman Region, this after winning a total of $30,000 through the Raise the Barn contest.
The annual ag retailer contest is hosted by WinField United, where farm service providers have a chance to win $10,000 for their provincial region and then they have an additional chance at the national prize of $20,000.
Souris Branch Manager of Redfern Farm Services, Dennis Lonsdale, says they were thrilled to win the first $10,000 and then the $20,000 Grand Prize, especially since the Grand Prize is through a voting process.
"I have to thank everyone in the community who supported us in this, the team members who got this project together to begin with," shares Lonsdale. "We had staff members taking personal time to get out there and get the word out, going door to door to let people know about it here in the Souris area. So, it was really heartwarming to see everybody partake in the voting process."
Lonsdale says after being named a regional winner in the WinField United Raise the Barn contest, RedFern Farm Services is teaming up with the Westman Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Association to bring much-needed counselling support to our community!
"With wait times to see mental health professionals stretching up to six months, it's clear that timely support is a challenge," he says. "Our initiative aims to bridge this gap by offering affordable counselling services to community members during their long wait times for mental health professionals."
The Westman Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Association will provide a counsellor available for weekly sessions for those referred to Manitoba Community Mental Health by their healthcare professional but have extended wait periods for their appointment. The counsellor will support patients throughout the waiting period until they can access funded community programs.
The funding from the Raise the Barn contest will go towards patient sessions, counselling professionals, and boosting community mental health awareness and education.
Lonsdale notes this initiative to bridge the gap of wait times for those wanting to be part of a counselling program isn't just for the farming community, as mental health and wellness is important for everyone in the greater community.
"We weren't trying to narrow it down to one specific demographic," he says. "It's for everybody!"
Please listen to more with Dennis Lonsdale below.
For more on Westman Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention Association services, visit their website HERE.
For more on the WinField United Raise the Barn contest click HERE!