Eden Mental Health Services has been chosen as a community-based champion by the Do More Ag Foundation to host a Mental Health First Aid training course in Winkler, set for September 11th and 12th. The two-day program, nationally sponsored by Farm Credit Canada (FCC), is looking to equip people with the tools to recognize and respond to mental health crises.
What is Mental Health First Aid?
Tyson Deceuninck, Marketing and Events Manager at Eden shared, “So this is a two-day training on how you can deal with someone who's starting to experience a mental health crisis or some sort of minor issue. It's basically what you can do for them. Similar to physical first aid… until you can get them the professional help that they need.”
Participants will leave the course certified in Mental Health First Aid, developed by the Canadian Mental Health Commission. The training covers crisis identification, mental health awareness, and practical ways to support someone in distress.
“That education… affects everyone around them. So, I like to think of it like that. It will give them the tools they need to have a ripple effect with their community and the people that they speak to on a daily basis.”
While seats were initially reserved for Eden staff and local partners, remaining spots are now being opened to the wider community, and people can register by clicking here.
Why agriculture needs support
Nick Shymanski, Relationship Manager at FCC’s Morden office, shared why the organization is supporting the initiative. “At FCC… our mission statement is supporting the agriculture industry and farmers as a whole, and that's more than just traditional financing services... Farming is one of the most stressful jobs out there,” he said. “Recognising that, FCC has partnered with the Do More Ag Foundation and Eden Health Services to provide support to communities and to farmers to help with mental health services.”
Shymanski also emphasized breaking down stigma in agriculture. “It's common for farmers… to view having or admitting that they’re struggling with mental health as a sign of weakness,” he said. “I heard a cool quote a couple of days ago… ‘Seeking help when you are struggling with mental health isn't a sign of weakness. It's taking care of business.’”
He pointed to resources the FCC has dedicated to helping people recognize, identify and take the next steps for those seeking help, such as their national crisis line for farmers, farmhands, and family or relatives of farmers, 1-866-FARMS01.
Deceuninck shared some statistics, highlighting not only the need for the training, but also spreading awareness that it is in fact needed.
"According to the Canadian Mental Health Commission, one in five Canadians will experience a mental health issue in any given year. One in two by the time they're forty years old," he added, "In terms of suicide rates, according to Canadian Mental Health and Addictions Commission, it's double in rural areas than that in urban areas."
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The Community Champion
For Eden, being chosen as Winkler’s community champion for this training reflects its long-standing role in providing mental health supports across the region. “We had to apply for this grant… That's who we are. It's mental health,” Deceuninck said, pointing to Eden’s psychiatric facility, supportive housing, employment services, and counselling programs.
The Mental Health First Aid training will run September 11th and 12th from 9 am to 5 pm at Eden Mental Health Services in Winkler. Admission is free, but seats are limited, with just over ten spots remaining.
“Come out on September 11th and 12th,” Deceuninck said in closing. “Sign up. Not only are we the Community champion, but it also allows you to be a community champion as well.”