Stigma-Free Society recently reached out to Meagan Ann Gordon and Kaitlyn Beaulieu from the Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective (ROYMHC). Keep reading to learn more about the ROYMHC and Kaitlyn’s experience with mental health as a youth living in a rural area!

1. Tell us about the Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective! Why was it originally created, and what programs and services do you offer?

Meagan: In 2018, Nicole McKerracher, Executive Director of the Osgoode Youth Association (and now Chair of ROYMHC) brought together 13 rural youth-serving agencies invested in the mental wellbeing of rural Ottawa youth (ages 12 to 24). What started as a conversation turned into an action-orientated working group set out to understand and move the needle on rural Ottawa youth mental health. We became the Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective.

From there, we set out to establish how many rural Ottawa youth felt supported, and what types of programs and services could be offered to help them feel more supported with their mental health. Through robust data collection where we spoke with and surveyed youth, parents/guardians, and community stakeholders, we developed an intended impact statement: By 2024, 80% of rural Ottawa youth (ages 12-24) will feel they are getting the mental health support they need or know where to go for help if and when they need to access support.

How are we going to do this? We have a 5-strategy approach.

The first strategy is connecting with rural Ottawa youth to let them know what already exists in their local rural area. We do this through a dedicated website, social media and community outreach. We also partner with CHEO’s YouthNet to do in-school presentations, where we educate students on mental health skill building, chat about community resources available in specific rural areas, and connect them to ROYMHC.

The second and third strategies are youth education and circle of support education. Both of these strategies involve community-based workshops. The Collective is meeting youth where they’re at and co-facilitating with local Community Resource Centres who offer youth counselling.
Strategy four is to advocate for increased investment in rural-specific programming and to promote youth mental health counselling programs in rural Ottawa communities. This also includes helping rural-serving organizations secure and design private and welcoming spaces for rural mental health counselling.

Finally, strategy five is community engagement. This involves building the capacity of existing rural-serving youth organizations and working with a Youth Advisory Committee to gain guidance and feedback from youth.

2. What are some of the main challenges you’ve seen rural youth face with regard to mental health? How can these challenges be addressed?

Meagan: Let’s set the scene: You’re 16 years old and you live with your family in Fitzroy Harbour, a rural community in Western Ottawa with a population of about 580 people. You’re struggling with your mental health and you decide to find out what programs and services are available to you. You call a helpline that connects people to social services, programs and community supports. The operator on 211 asks for your postal code. The operator is thrilled to hear you live in Ottawa because you’re eligible for many great programs and services! The problem is, they’re in the urban core of Ottawa. You don’t drive and there’s no bus service. Your parents are supportive, but they have full-time jobs and can’t take you to a mid-day appointment 50+ minutes away.

This is one example of a scenario that ROYMHC members have heard repeatedly: Ottawa has many specialized mental health programs and services, but due to Ottawa’s vast land mass, there is a major disconnect between rural and urban/suburban. Local school boards have supports in rural schools, but there are limitations to accessing those services. ROYMHC members know that in order to support rural Ottawa youth more effectively, there needs to be a dedicated community approach – a rural specific approach.

3. If rural youth in Ottawa need support, where can they reach out?

Meagan: If you are a rural Ottawa youth or ally looking for support, check out our website at www.ruralOttawayouth.ca and follow us on Twitter (@RuralOttYouth), Facebook (Rural Ottawa Youth Mental Health Collective), or Instagram (@RuralOttawaYouth). Our website provides rural-local and virtual options.

4. What has your personal experience with mental health been like as a youth living in a rural community?

Kaitlyn: As a youth living in a rural community, it was both challenging and isolating navigating my mental health challenges. All the services I needed were so far away downtown. Given the lack of public transportation and lack of local resources, it was almost impossible to access supports and services. My only saving grace was that my school brought in specialized services for at-risk youth, which I met the criteria for. To this day, I am incredibly grateful for the opportunities and services I received.

5. In your opinion, what is the most important thing adults can do to support rural youth?

Kaitlyn: In my opinion, the most important thing adults can do to support rural youth is be open and willing to listen. If a youth trusts an adult enough to open up these dark and vulnerable parts of themselves, it is vital that we have someone safe and supportive there to listen.

6. What strategies do you use to take care of your mental health and overall well-being?

Kaitlyn: To take care of my mental health and overall well-being, I like to go for walks with my dog, or do something active like going to the gym or for a bike ride. I enjoy baking and doing anything creative, like crafts or makeup.

Traditional forms of mental health treatment, like psychotherapy or peer support groups, can provide life-changing benefits. However, people living in rural areas may experience stigma that prevents them from seeking treatment. Care farming offers a unique opportunity for rural communities: it incorporates mental health treatment into fun social activities in a stigma-free environment.

What Is Care Farming?

Care farming, also known as social farming, is the practice of using farming activities as a form of therapy, along with counselling and other mental healthcare interventions. Care farms have structured, licensed programs that are led by mental health professionals. Groups of clients work together to complete various agricultural tasks, such as flower or vegetable farming, tending to animals, and harvesting.

Participating in a care farm program provides clients with the opportunity to give back to their community while building self-esteem and learning new skills. Care farms serve a variety of people seeking therapeutic interventions. They may offer services to those coping with depression or addiction, veterans, and children with autism. Any group of marginalized people can benefit from the services of a care farm.

How Does Care Farming Help?

Care farming has been proven to have several mental and physical health benefits! They reduce depression and stress, slow cognitive decline, and give clients a sense of community and belonging. They also provide a safe, inclusive environment for people with mental illness to get to know each other. Moreover, the focus is on farming activities rather than the individual. This can help relieve the social pressure that clients may feel, especially those who are concerned about stigma or judgement. Care farms help clients gain self-efficacy as they practice new skills. They may even offer clients an opportunity to pursue new qualifications and employment opportunities. This instils a sense of hope and confidence that is especially helpful for recovery.

In addition, exercising and spending time in nature are known to be beneficial for mental health. Care farms encourage both of these practices, and often provide animal therapy with psychotherapy or other forms of treatment. Overall, they help clients learn new tools to improve their overall health and make connections with others in their community.

Care Farming in Canada

The care farm model is popular across the UK and Europe. Although it’s not as common in Canada yet, there are already some successful care farms that are spearheading the movement. Green Care Farms is located in Milton, Ontario and serves people living with dementia, Alzheimer’s, and other cognitive impairments. It was founded by Rebekah Churchyard, who learned about the effectiveness of care farms in Europe and wanted to fill this gap in Canada. Green Care Farms has a social worker and researcher on their team who develop and evaluate programs geared toward their target population. The farm features a Sensory Garden, where patients help design the garden and plant their own fruits, flowers, and vegetables.

Fiddlehead Care Farm offers services geared toward children, teens, and young adults. They provide individual and family counselling, as well as with animal therapy. They also teach young people life skills through farming-related tasks, and help them develop a sense of responsibility and purpose. The farm is located in Mono, Ontario and is currently seeking volunteers!

Care farming is a great way to support those seeking treatment in rural communities. By combining the therapeutic benefits of nature, exercise, and group activities, it offers incredibly powerful tools for mental health. Most importantly, care farming encourages people with a shared lived experience to come together and relate to one another, reducing feelings of shame and stigma.

I am a second year PhD student in the school of Environmental Studies at the University of Victoria, where my research focuses on the relationships between soil quality and farmers’ health. This research is informed by a twenty year career working with the BC provincial public service (in six different ministries), and by more recent work on a national policy scan for rural economic development, alongside advisory roles with the National Farmers’ Union mental health working group, the Pacific Regional Society of Soil Science, and the Sandown Centre for Regenerative Agriculture, among others.

In the summer of 2021, I had the pleasure of visiting 36 farms in rural communities on Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Sunshine Coast. I visited these farms to collect soil samples as part of my PhD research, and to talk to farmers about the relationships between soil quality and farmers’ health.

Soil health keeps me up at night. I worry about soil erosion, brought on by the overuse of practices like tillage and the application of synthetic pesticides and fertilisers. I worry about declining biodiversity, water quality and food security, especially in the face of COVID-19 pandemic and the increasing frequency of extreme climate events. I worry about what is happening to the mind-numbing variety of fascinating organisms that cycle nutrients and hold water in the soil. But more than anything, I worry about the health of farmers responsible for making decisions about what they grow and how it is grown.

Most farmers live, work and play in rural communities, where social connection is critical to physical, mental and economic well being. With a decline in the number of farmers over time, and increasing pressure on food systems, the mental health of farmers is of national concern, identified in a recent federal Standing Senate Committee report. Recent research by Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton and Dr. Briana Hagen (below) indicates that farmers are suffering, and that the pandemic only made things worse.

Why are farmers uniquely susceptible to stress and mental health pressures? The reasons appear to be complex and systemic in nature. With the mass movement away from the farm after the second world war, farms became larger, rural communities became smaller, and many of these people and places became invisible to the outside world. Urban areas continue to rely on rural areas, through the extraction of resources such as timber, water, and minerals. Current policies tend to focus on large-scale, provincial level priorities, which means that the rewards of this bounty are often not returned to rural areas. This can compound a feeling of rural isolation, and a sentiment of being left behind.

This sentiment is backed by evidence. Most small-scale farmers are virtually invisible to current policy frameworks. Despite occurring in rural areas, a recent policy review identifies that provincial and territorial strategies, plans and programmes related to natural resources, energy, climate and agriculture almost universally ignore opportunities for rural economic development. In agriculture, the vast majority of programming and funding is designed for the large-scale farmers that support global markets. The National Farmers Union Resources website shows that mental health resources for farmers are piecemeal, information focused, and treat only the symptoms of broader systemic issues.

Farmers, particularly those in rural areas, are on the front lines of climate change, as their homes and livelihoods are tied directly to the land and unpredictable economic and environmental conditions. Where farmers live is where they work and where they play. Most farmers operate under significant debt burdens and face pressures of legacy. Margins are tight, risks are complex, and costs are increasing everywhere. Yet farmers are some of the most innovative and intelligent people I know.

Most of the farmers I visited for field work managed small scale, diverse operations on less than 10 acres, growing products destined for local markets, CSAs, restaurants, friends and family. These farmers were former chiropractors, nurses, teachers, musicians, artists, sociologists, biologists, foresters, computer network designers, dental hygienists, real estate agents, architects and counsellors, among others. I could not have been more impressed with the level of intelligence and curiosity that these individuals brought to our conversations and their work. Their primary interest in the research I was undertaking often stemmed from a desire “not to make things worse.”

When I asked about the sources of stress they experienced day to day, the primary responses (perhaps not surprisingly) were financial, time/task management, labour and isolation. Despite working full-time, most farmers didn’t earn a salary, and farming alone did not cover the costs of running the farm, or living expenses. Someone is making money on expensive food, but it doesn’t seem to be the farmers. There are virtually no financial supports for farmers working at the small scale, especially for those looking to transition to climate-friendly soil building practices.

There is a mismatch between current policy objectives and farmers’ objectives. The current framework could be designed to improve environmental, economic, and social wellbeing that leverages the unique strengths and opportunities in unique rural communities. Small scale farmers are deeply integrated into local systems, and are critical partners in the path to climate adaptation and rural development.

Guest Contributor: Brook Hayes

For more information about Brooke’s research, you can visit her project website, or reach her by email at: brookehayes@uvic.ca

Additional Resources:

· Government of Canada Standing Select Committee Report: Released in 2019, “Mental Health: A Priority for our Farmers” report outlines 10 recommendations for attention.
· National Farmers’ Union Consolidated List of Mental Health Resources specifically for farmers, organized by region.
· National Survey of Farmer Mental Health: Conducted by Dr. Andria Jones-Britton in 2018 involving over 1,000 producers across Canada. Follow-up Assessment in 2022.
· Healthy Minds, Healthy Farms: Includes a media kit, a report on mental health, and farm business management.
· Rooted in Strength: Provides an overview and assessment tool to support famers to identity and manage sources of stress and access mental health resources.
· Pan-Canadian Scan of Policies for Rural Places: Released in 2022

We often think of children as happy-go-lucky, free from the burdens and responsibilities of adulthood. But children often pick up on the stressors and challenges of life on the farm. The impact of COVID-19 is still affecting the mental health of children and youth, and many rural communities are facing overwhelming challenges that can generate strong emotions for the whole family.

Opening up lines of communication and talking openly with your children about challenges on the farm and mental health is one of the best places to start. Research into Kansas farm families shows that children often blamed themselves for their family’s financial situation and stress. When parents tried to protect their children by keeping all challenges secret, children felt more anxious. Of course it’s natural to want to protect your children from the harsher realities of life, but often they pick up on this stress anyway. Showing that you are comfortable talking about these issues and facing them can increase feelings of trust and resilience.

Here are some tips for talking to your child about their worries and mental health:

Work on de-stigmatizing the language around mental illness in your own mind. Many adults have a difficult time even saying the words “mental illness”, never mind applying those words to a child. If you seem to stumble over those words, practice saying them out loud. Mental illness is nothing to be scared of, ashamed of or threatened by – so say the words out loud and practice using them. Normalize them as best you can in your mind before you speak to a child about this topic. Work on addressing your own stigma around mental health, so you don’t pass on the stigma to your child.

In rural communities, strength and self-reliance are especially important values. Remind your child that asking for help and talking about their emotional and mental health is a sign of strength.

Be open and honest. As mentioned above, one of the most important aspects to helping a child, whether they will be diagnosed with a mental illness or not, is open and honest communication. Talking openly about emotion and mental health may be difficult, particularly if this is a new way to communicate, but the more open and honest you are about what you’ve noticed, how you’re feeling and your true desire to help, the greater and stronger your journey is going to be.
This goes for the things that are causing great stress on the farm. If you are struggling with farm management, the effects of climate change, financial uncertainty, and other stressors, it’s okay to explain what’s going on. Usually children know when their parents are stressed and upset, and being kept in the dark can increase uncertainty.

Don’t sugar-coat. Talking about mental health and mental illness with a child can be a very serious topic. It deserves to be treated as such. Try not to sugar-coat anything or talk to a child like they’re a baby (this advice is coming from an 11-year old boy diagnosed with four mental illnesses). If you have noticed their behaviour has changed, you can almost guarantee a child has been feeling different. Having you acknowledge this change will most likely come as a relief to them. So be direct with your words and use language suitable for their age.

Try Talking While Doing an Activity: Sometimes having a conversation about mental health can feel overwhelming for you both. Here are some activities you can do for creating a relaxing environment that can help you both open up more easily to one another. Perhaps you can talk about mental health while visiting or working with animals on the farm, which can be more relaxing.

Be truthful, not hurtful. Mental illness and changes in mental health may have caused a child’s behaviour to change dramatically. It can be frustrating, nerve-wracking and daunting to
address behavioural problems, particularly if they are less desirable behaviours. As you begin to navigate along your journey, try to remain as honest and truthful as possible without hurtful or negative comments. Many of these new behaviours from a child may be just as upsetting for them as they are for you, so helping them understand what you’ve noticed and how it makes you feel will go a lot further than telling them the behaviour is “bad” or “naughty.”

Be as prepared as possible for their response. You have no idea how a child will respond to initial conversations about how they are feeling with respect to their mental health and wellbeing. They may feel relieved that you’ve noticed a change. They may feel angry that you’re talking about something that is upsetting for them. They may feel sad if they feel like they’re letting you down somehow. Try to be prepared for any reaction and validate how they are
feeling.

The best way to do that? Stay kind. Stay compassionate. Try to be as understanding as you can possibly be. This advice holds true for your entire journey understanding a child’s mental health. In addition, taking care of your own needs and mental wellbeing will demonstrate to your child how to prioritize mental health and will also ensure you can be there for them.

If you have pets or live with animals on the farm, you probably know that animals can be an incredible form of emotional support. Pets can have many benefits for your mental health, including increasing your physical activity, reducing anxiety through providing companionship and affection, boosting self-confidence and adding structure to your day. In rural areas where mental health services are not always plentiful, spending time with pets is one way of improving your emotional wellness. Of course, owning animals and pets comes with a host of responsibilities and can create new stressors as well. But some research suggests that people who grow up in rural areas around animals have better immune systems and fewer mental health challenges. Pets and animals aren’t going to solve mental health issues, but they can be one factor in improving mental wellness.

Therapy Dogs and Equine therapy are both gaining traction and becoming more common forms of mental health support.

Therapy Dogs

Dogs are wonderfully loving and affectionate and can make great companions. Petting dogs has been shown to improve heart rate, blood pressure and breathing. And of course, dogs can help reduce loneliness and encourage us to exercise and meet new people.

A therapy dog is a dog that has been specifically trained and certified to provide emotional support. According to Companion Paws Canada, “A certified personal therapy dog (Companion Paws emotional support dog) is a trained, temperament tested, evaluated and certified dog that brings positive mental health benefits to their owners/handlers. Often a Therapy Dog is beneficial to those that struggle with mental health conditions.” A therapy dog is not the same as a service dog, and is specifically trained to provide affection and comfort. Wounded Warriors is an organization that matches PTSD service dogs with injured veterans and first responders. The benefits of service dogs for those suffering from PTSD has been shown to be profound.

Of course, you don’t need a therapy dog or a service dog to benefit from an affectionate pooch or the other animals and pets in your life.

Equine Therapy

Equine-assisted psychotherapy combines therapy and interacting with horses, such as grooming, feeding and leading a horse while being supported by a mental health professional. Equine therapy can help build emotional awareness, social skills, impulse control, confidence, problem-solving skills, trust in self and others, and empathy. Equine therapy can be used for all ages and for many different reasons, such as managing grief, trauma, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. Rather than simply sitting down and talking with a therapist, equine therapy is more experiential and brings people outdoors. People process and work through their emotions while engaging with a majestic and sensitive animal. Horses are highly observant and often mirror client’s behaviours or emotions, which builds connection and understanding. For people who struggle to be vulnerable and open in a therapeutic setting, equine therapy can help people open up and process what they’re going through.

Working with horses also takes a lot of practical effort. Exercising, feeding, and grooming a horse can provide routine and a sense of purpose and structure. Caring for an animal can also help develop empathy. As people learn to work with the horse and develop greater trust and connection, they are also stepping outside of their comfort zone and learning to take more emotional risks in a healing and non-judgmental environment.

For some people, equine therapy, service dogs and therapy dogs can be incredibly helpful for their mental health. If these forms of therapy aren’t right for you or aren’t accessible in your area, that’s okay too. Simply spending time with animals and pets can be a great way of boosting your overall physical and mental wellbeing.