Do More Ag Launches Community Fund for Mental Health First Aid on Monday

The Do More Agriculture Foundation will officially launch its Community Fund for Mental Health First Aid and begin accepting applications for mental health first aid training on Monday.

The Do More Agriculture Foundation in partnership with Farm Credit Canada has established a one year pilot project under which mental health first aid training will be offered in rural communities across Canada.

Kim Keller, a Saskatchewan farmer and cofounder of the Do More Agriculture Foundation, explains mental health first aid is just like physical first aid in that it teaches people to recognize the signs and symptoms of someone who may be experiencing a mental health crisis and how to respond until they're able to get that person to their local emergency room or until help comes to them.

Clip-Kim Keller-Do More Agriculture Foundation:

This training is really important and we're starting in agriculture with a very basic understanding about where mental health is, about what mental illness is and what this training does is it really builds that capacity within communities.

It also gives people the confidence in order to be able to handle a mental health crisis as well as being able to see the signs and symptoms that someone may be experiencing a mental health crisis.

It also goes a long way to breaking down the stigma that exists around mental health.

So on Monday September the 10th people can come to our web site, www.domore.ag, and click on how to do more.

That's where they'll find frequently asked questions about the Community Fund for Mental Health First Aid and that's also where they'll also find the application form.

Keller notes, in order to apply, someone from within the community has to assume the role of lead organizer and be willing to organize the training and work with a facilitator that will be leading the mental health first aid training.

For more information visit domore.ag.
For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.