Free support that meets you where you are

The Farmer Wellness Initiative offers free, unlimited mental health counselling to Ontario farmers, farm families and farm employees, including international agricultural workers and trained Guardians.

It provides support that understands the unique challenges of agricultural life and delivers it with care, compassion and a deep respect for the people who make up the Ontario farming community.

If you’re in need of support, call us anytime: 1-866-267-6255. Immediate support and intake is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, every day of the year.

Call 1-866-267-6255

How it works

Getting support through the Farmer Wellness Initiative is simple, flexible and built
around your needs. Whether you’re reaching out for the first time or returning for
continued care, here’s what to expect.

Intake

When you call, you’ll speak with someone who will guide you through a short, simple intake process. You’ll be asked for your name, where you live and what type of support you need. If you need immediate support, you’ll be connected to immediate help.

Connection

Within about a week, you’ll be matched with a professional counsellor who understands the realities of agricultural life. You can meet by phone, video or in person where available, depending on what works best for you, your schedule and your comfort level.

Support

You can continue counselling for as long as you need. It’s free, unlimited and focused on your well-being. If the first match doesn’t feel quite right, you can request a different counsellor — no questions asked. Just call the line back and ask for another counsellor. What matters most is that you feel supported.

“The importance of psychological counselling in rural areas is essential, since work on farms demands many hours of physical work; the counselling space can be used to release worries and gain perspective on the conflicts of daily and work life.”

— Rosa Cervantes (Rural Mental Health Counsellor)

“Farming is more than a job-it’s a way of life. The pressures and unpredictability of agriculture can take a toll on our mental health. Counselling provides a safe, supportive way for farmers to manage stress, develop healthy coping strategies to meet ongoing demands and to recognize that it’s essential to take care of yourself while you are taking care of everything and everyone else.”  

— Bonnie Taylor MSW, RSW  

What you need to know

We’ve designed this service to be as accessible, inclusive and easy to use as possible. Here are a few key things to understand before you call.

Support is available to Ontario-based farmers, farm employees and their families —including spouses and dependents, whether they live on the farm or not. Callers must be 16 or older. Youth ages 12 to 15 can also access the service with parental consent.

Your privacy matters. Everything you share during your counselling sessions is completely confidential and protected under Ontario’s Personal Health Information Protection Act (2004).

There’s no cost to use this service, and no limit on how many sessions you can have. It’s free, full stop — because getting support shouldn’t come with strings attached.

Support is available 24/7, every day of the year. Just call 1-866-267-6255 to get started. Services are offered in English, French, and Spanish, and the line is operated by TELUS Health. Translation services are also available in other languages.

Call us anytime: 1-866-267-6255

If you’re in need of support, call us anytime. Intake is available 24 hours a day,
seven days a week, every day of the year. 

What do you talk about in counselling?

You don’t have to be in crisis to reach out. Counselling can be a space to sort through everyday stress, strengthen relationships, or simply check in on your own well-being. And while many callers are connected to agriculture, your conversations don’t have to be farm-related at all.

Here are just a few of the things people often talk about:

Personal stressSubstance use
Family or relationships Stress on the farm
Financial pressure How to support loved ones
Managing your workloadProcessing traumatic events
Loneliness, isolation or homesicknessDeveloping coping strategies and managing mental health 
Anxiety or depressionGrief

Frequently asked questions

Here’s what people often ask us about getting started with counselling support.

During your counselling session, your counsellor will create a comfortable environment to openly discuss the concerns you have. They will offer a non-judgmental space where you can feel heard, express what concerns you have and explore how it makes you feel. In addition, your counsellor will provide objective feedback, as well as work with you to determine the problem-solving techniques

If you are not satisfied with the counsellor, please call TELUS Health to express your concerns. TELUS Health will work with you to set up an appointment with another counsellor who is a better fit for your needs. You may call 1-866-267-6255 to express your concerns.

The counsellors have a minimum of a master’s degree in social work, psychology, educational counselling, or other related human services field, along with a minimum of five years’ counselling experience. Many TELUS Health counsellors involved in the FWI have a background in agriculture and rural communities, and all professionals receive customized training on the realities of agricultural life and trends that might be causing additional stress throughout the year.

As with most health care service providers, the counsellors at TELUS Health will require 24-hour notice to cancel or reschedule an appointment. Appointments can be cancelled or rescheduled by calling 1-866-267-6255.

The provincial and federal governments have provided funding to access free counselling sessions with mental health professionals. CMHA Ontario (Agriculture Wellness Ontario) manages the program and the counselling sessions are provided by TELUS Health. The mental health professionals at TELUS Health have received training to understand the unique needs of the agricultural community. Agriculture Wellness Ontario and Telus Health work in collaboration to ensure quality assurance and ongoing support.

If your teen is between the ages of 12 and 15 years old, they will need parental consent before they can access counselling through the Farmer Wellness Initiative. Please read the other FAQs on how the process works. To start the process, please call 1-866-267-6255.

A legal requirement is that a parent or a guardian must sign a consent form or provide verbal permission before a child between the ages of 12 to 15 access counselling.

During the counselling session, the counsellor will create a safe, non-judgmental and confidential environment for your teen to openly discuss their issues in-depth.

Yes, it is confidential. The counsellor will review with you and explain the limits of confidentiality to you during your first session. All information received through counselling sessions is confidential and in accordance with the Personal Health Information Protection Act (2004).

Almost everything you share with your counsellor is private and will not be shared without your permission, but there are important exceptions required by law. This will be discussed with you early on in your counselling sessions. Disclosure is allowed or required in these situations:

  • Child safety: If your counsellor suspects that a child is being abused or neglected, they are legally required to report this to a child protection agency under the Child, Youth and Family Services Act.
  • Risk of serious harm: If you express intent to seriously harm yourself or someone else, or there is a clear and imminent danger, your counsellor may need to share this information to prevent harm.
  • Court order of subpoenas: If a judge orders your records to be released, your counsellor must comply with the law.
  • Other legal requirements: Certain laws require disclosure in specific cases, such as reporting elder abuse, vulnerable adult abuse or complying with criminal investigations.

No, your employer will not know you contacted the line. You may be asked what program you are calling from. The intake worker is simply verifying that you have reached the service that you are looking for. Please answer them with “the Farmer Wellness Initiative”. You will also be asked what group you fit into (farmer, farm worker, family member, Guardian, International Agricultural Worker) but this information is not shared with your employer.