Mental Health Awareness In Agriculture - The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program and Donna's Journey with Donna Odell

Donna married her high school sweetheart Les directly out of school and has been married to him for 39 years this July.

She was raised in Virden and moved to the farm when they married. For 5 years they lived in a trailer and had one daughter there. They started into cattle with 6 mixed breed cows in 1989.

In 1991 they moved to the home farm where the Odell's began in 1892. They are the 4th generation of Odell's on that land. Donna's family also had connections to Hargrave and she too is the 4th generation to live in that community.

They raised 3 daughters. One of which farms with her husband across the highway from them. They help each other with labour and equipment and are working on succession plans. 

Donna volunteers on the board of the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program and finds purpose in speaking with farmers and others about mental health issues and finding help. She would love to see the stigma disappear.

Today Donna shares her story and experience with postpartum depression, depression and anxiety, as well as some of the factors that have contributed both positively and negatively to her mental health on the farm.

We chat about the power in sharing your story, and how this can help each of us to reduce the stigma around mental health.

As a board member for the Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program, Donna shares some of the changes to the program, which include increasing the number of sessions per year to 9 per person, as well as opening this service up to farm employees as well.  

You can connect with Donna on facebook at: @Donna Greig Les Odell

The Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program offers confidential, free, counselling services to Manitoba farmers, farm families and employees. 1(204) 232-0574.

The National Farmer Crisis Line is a free, confidential service available 24/7.  The phone number to call for this service is 1-866-FARMS01 or 1-866-327-6701.  

Links mentioned/used in this episode:

CBC News Article: “Virden woman wants to help farmers get mental health support from those who know ag sector” Oct. 23, 2023

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/farmer-mental-health-counselling-1.7003528

National Farmer Wellness Network & National Farmer Crisis Line: https://ccaw.ca/national-farmer-wellness-network/

Manitoba Farmer Wellness Program: https://manitobafarmerwellness.ca/book-an-appointment

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