Your news this week: Possible name for Lamont park - 3 Equine Easter - 6 Hardy birds are also protected - 8 OPINION: Looking for a leader - 4
Proud to be an Independent CANADIAN Publication
FREE
Vol. 16, No. 19, Wednesday, April 7, 2021 www.LamontLeader.com
And they’re off...
Local children finally enjoy the Bruderheim Cosmic Skatepark once it was opened for the season on Mar. 31. Photo: Jana Semeniuk.
Zoom workshop this Friday to study rural mental health stresses BY JOHN MATHER Last year was not a good year for Lamont County farmers - from a wet spring, to severe flooding that washed out much of the plantable land across a broad swath of the county, to a pandemic, to prices that weren’t the strongest. It just wasn’t a good year. And that leads to mental stresses. They can be caused by the flooding, caused by financial issues - there are a variety of causes. Those are issues that will be discussed in a zoom workshop hosted by Lamont County FCSS, Lamont County Agricultural Services and the Lamont and District Agricultural Society on April 9 at 7 p.m. “‘Breaking the Stigma’ is a mental health session for farming in rural communities,” said Darlene Onusko, a program assistant with Lamont County
FCSS. “We don’t want people to be ashamed about mental health. Especially in the farming community, because of the pandemic, times are really tough.” “We want to make sure people are aware of the signs of mental health issues and let them know there is nothing to be ashamed of.” The workshop, which is free to attend, will feature Lesley Kelly, the founder of High Heels & Canola Fields and the co-founder of The Do More Agriculture Foundation, as the keynote speaker. After her presentation there will be a panel discussion with Les Branton, from Alberta Health Services, Addictions and Mental Health unit; Derek Wright, the Lamont County Peace Officer; and Tia Schram, a farm representative who grew up in the
Bruderheim area where her family still farms. “Kelly will give about a 50-minute presentation,” added Onusko. “With the panel discussion we’re hoping to possibly have an RCMP officer on the panel as well.” “We really want people to be aware of mental health issues on the farm.” Onusko said if farmers see signs of mental health issues they can contact FCSS and they will provide them mental health unit contacts where they can seek further help. Alberta Health has mental health programs available in Edmonton, Vegreville and Lloydminster. Onusko said she would like to see the whole family taking part in the zoom conference if possible. “Mental health affects the whole family and it can be seen through
financial stresses, marital stresses and other ways. Tia Schram has spoken on these topics before which is why she’s going to be a good person to have on our panel.” Onusko said she would like to see more registrants for the seminar that takes place this Friday. She said while there is no minimum number required to attend the seminar, ideally she would like to see at least 10 families taking part. She said the seminar should take at least an hour to 90 minutes depending on how much discussion is generated. She added having the seminar on a Friday was done so it wouldn’t interfere with anyone's work. “It’s at the end of the work week and we felt that was the best time to host the seminar.”