Counselling project wraps up

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

by MARY BAXTER

“It was only designed to be a two-year pilot to assess the situation,” Gamble said.

Nevertheless, the potential existed to continue the pilot, which was being operated in 10 areas within the province.

But that would take financial backing and as of yet, “no one has stepped up to the plate to keep it alive,” he said.

Launched in 2006, the service provided free, confidential advice on issues related to life on the farm ranging from relationships, communication and parenting skills to personal debt counseling.

The program was developed in response to a 2005 survey that revealed an urgent need for such a service. Its $350,000 budget was funded by a two-year grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and contributions from Farm Credit Canada as well as the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association. The pilot took place in Haldimand-Norfolk, Chatham-Kent, Cornwall, Niagara, Peterborough, London, Sarnia, Simcoe County, Guelph and Kitchener-Waterloo.

Gamble said despite the survey responses, fewer farmers made use of the service than expected. He would not release the actual numbers until the program wrapped up in March but admitted they were “disappointing.”

He attributed the lack of response to a heavily ingrained culture of self-reliance in farmers.

Susan Wells, the program's project manager, also described a disappointing response to the service. About a third of the Trillium funding was unused and will be returned, she said.

Meanwhile, at the Farm Line, an anonymous peer support service, calls are increasing, said Susan Klein-Swormink, the line’s manager.

Klein-Swormink said the line, which operates five days a week, typically receives about two to three calls a day. In December, the number of calls increased significantly, she said, attributing the heightened activity to troubles in the hog and beef sectors.

She estimated of those who called in during the months of November and December, 15 to 20 would have been encouraged to contact AgResolve for further assistance.

Yet many who get referred to AgResolve are hesitant “to go to counseling and sit in an office and talk about their problems.” Fears that the person they will speak to won’t know about agriculture is a reason often cited, she explained.

Klein-Swormink called the demise of the AgResolve program “unfortunate” but noted all along it was intended as a research project.

The Farm Line, which can be reached toll-free at 1-888-451-2903 and is a separate service, won’t be interrupted by AgResolve’s shut down.

Gamble also emphasized that those seeking help would still be able to access assistance through family service agencies across the province for a fee. Farmers who work off-farm may also be able to access subsidized counseling through employee assistance programs, he added. BF