Jillian Gillis previews We Talk. We Grow.

By Jillian Gillis 

Taking care of mental health and normalizing conversations around it is really important to me. That’s why I was so happy to have met up with Katie Keddy, the vice-president of Farm Safety NS, to talk about the We Talk We Grow initiative. If you or someone you know is involved in agriculture and doesn’t know where to turn for help with mental health issues, this story might be of interest.  

Nurturing your mental health is important for everyone, but it is often not considered when people think of farming. We Talk We Grow is a great awareness campaign that encourages people in agriculture to feel more comfortable discussing mental health concerns. They have designed a website that provides resources and supports for the farming community regarding mental health. 

I know from personal experience that having a better understanding of mental health issues and having good supports in place plays a key role in mental well-being. The more I saw people talking about mental health, the more comfortable I felt sharing my experiences and seeking the help I needed. It can be very overwhelming for someone when they think they are alone in the challenges they face, or if they aren’t familiar with the signs of mental health troubles. That’s why I was so excited to get the chance to cover this story about this wonderful project dedicated to mental health.  

Watch our interview with Katie Keddy about the We Talk We Grow campaign on AMI This Week next Monday at 8 p.m. Eastern, on AMI-tv.