CALEB NICKERSON
OUTAOUAIS Sept. 30, 2020
A Gofundme has been started to raise money for two new support workers for local agriculture workers and their families.
The new hires are part of the Écoute agricole program, which is administered by the farmers’ union the UPA. Local representative Scott Judd said that the program, which provides support workers to help producers and their families deal with mental health issues, originated in . . .
the Laurentides region and quickly spread to neighbouring communities. He said that the need for the program has already been demonstrated.
“I don’t know how many people they’ve had on the phone, but they’re so overwhelmed with people calling that they needed to hire two more [workers],” he said. “They had an increase from our region.”
The description of the Gofundme states that the Outaouais has seen several producers take their own lives in recent months, and highlights the fact that suicide and mental distress are more common in the farming community than in the general population.
Judd explained that the workers will not only speak to someone in crisis, but will also meet with their family to address their needs as well. They will be available not only to UPA members, but anyone with close ties to the agriculture industry.
“They’re not just there for prevention, but they’re there after something’s happened,” Judd said. “They’re there for everybody.”
The hiring of the two new workers was financially supported by both the provincial and municipal governments, as well as the local health authority, but a little more was needed from the public. The goal of the fundraiser is $5,000, and as of Monday, the total stood at just over $1,300.
The Gofundme campaign can be found here: https://tinyurl.com/yydp6zx9
