Gateway discusses farmers’ mental health with special visitor from England

Dan Stringer, Vice Chair; Nyden Greenfield, Research Assistant; Julia Waanders, Research Assistant; Lucia Slack, Psychiatric Nurse from Cumbria, England; Lily Rideout, Business Development Officer; Sophia Buckman, Research Assistant; Julie Wein, Research Assistant; Gwen Devereaux, President; Mike Beazely, Research Chair of Rural Substance Use.

Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health (CERH) had a special visitor when Mrs. Lucia Slack, a psychiatric nurse from Cumbria, England, visited the Gateway CERH office for a presentation and conversation.

Lucia holds the designation of Clinical Lead, the equivalent to the Canadian Nurse Practitioner designation.

Slack visited to learn more about how Gateway CERH works to support the health and well-being of farmers in our local rural communities.

Farmers’ mental health is an increasingly significant issue in England, as they struggle to deal with a multiplicity of issues.

As part of her travels across Canada, Slack plans to visit several organizations dedicated to supporting farmers and educating healthcare practitioners on the unique realities and culture of farming communities.

Following the presentation, Slack shared that she was amazed that a small rural community like Goderich is home to an organization like Gateway CERH, which leads extensive projects and research initiatives, including the Gateway CERH Farmers’ Safety and Well-Being program.

Slack lives in England with her husband and three-year-old daughter on a 500-acre dairy farm where they milk over a thousand cows.

For more information, contact: Gateway Centre of Excellence in Rural Health at info@gatewayruralhealth.ca or 519-612-1053.