In the Know - Agriculture Wellness Ontario

Become more informed — and feel more confident — about discussing mental health

In the Know is a mental health literacy program developed at the Ontario Veterinary College (University of Guelph) by Dr. Briana Hagen and Dr. Andria Jones-Bitton in collaboration with an advisory team with farming and mental health expertise. This free, four-hour workshop is designed for farmers, farm families and those who work in or support the agriculture sector. It explores stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and how to start conversations about mental health. Sessions are facilitated by CMHA mental health professionals and use real-life examples from agriculture. Workshops are offered for groups of five to thirty participants and include training handouts, helpful resources and a certificate of completion.

“I just want to say thank you for offering this workshop and bridging the gap between mental health and farm workers. Thank you for letting the industry that we aren’t forgotten or uncared for. Most of the time, lectures or workshops can seem mundane or useless, but this one made me feel like this is the first step I can take to make a difference and be the change I want to see in the world, especially in the farming community.”

—farmer in ontario

What you’ll learn

Understand stress, anxiety, depression, acute trauma, suicide and substance use and how they may affect you and your family.
Recognize signs and symptoms of mental distress and how they may show up in your day-to-day operations.
Learn approaches for engaging in safe conversations about mental health with someone who may be struggling.
Find the appropriate people and/or organizations that can provide help/support/resources for someone who may be struggling.

78%

Overall satisfaction rate with workshops (April 2022 – August 2025)

60%

After taking this workshop, 60% felt more confident in recognizing if someone is struggling with mental health (October 2023 – August 2025)

71%

Of participants intended to adopt knowledge from the workshop (October 2023 – August 2025)

Upcoming virtual sessions

Apr. 15, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
May 7, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Jun. 23, 2026 | 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

In the Know registration

Interested in hosting a workshop?

If you are interested in hosting a workshop or would like more information on the program, contact the provincial In the Know team:

Learn more

Rebecca Posthumus

Program coordinator,
In the Knowrposthumus@ontario.cmha.ca

Erica Sayles

Program outreach coordinator,
In the Knowesayles@ontario.cmha.ca

Frequently asked questions

Need more information? Here are some common questions we get about the program.

This training can be delivered in person OR virtually through Zoom.

In the Know requires a minimum of five participants and a maximum of thirty.

In the Know covers a variety of mental health topics including stress, depression, anxiety, substance use and how to start a conversation around mental well-being.

Workshops are typically scheduled over a 4-hour period, this accounts for content delivery and inclusion of breaks. We are also able to offer the workshop in two sessions if that better fits your needs. Please contact our In the Know team to further discuss flexible delivery options.

Yes! If there has been an event that might be relevant, please let us know and we can work with you to ensure all participants are best supported during our training.

Thanks to our funders these programs are free for us to deliver.

This training is delivered by CMHA mental health professionals who have a connection to the agricultural community and are passionate about what they do.