Syngenta Canada is making a contribution to the Do More Agriculture Foundation in the amount of $30,000.

The donation was made as part of Mental Health Week, which is taking place this week across the country.

“With the Spring season now upon us, the focus for many of us in the sector turns to the next cycle of seeding and production,” says Trevor Heck, President of Syngenta Canada. “But that doesn’t happen in isolation from other aspects of our lives, be they personal, professional, on-farm or off-farm. Health and wellness does not recognize these boundaries, which is why we are pleased to continue our support for The Do More Agriculture Foundation and the work they are doing to de-stigmatize mental health illness in our sector and develop and provide resources geared for farmers and farming communities.”

A 2015 study conducted by the University of Guelph reported that 58% of Canadian producers met the criteria for anxiety; 45% were classified as having high stress; 35% met the definition for depression; and 40% reported that they would feel uneasy about seeking professional help due to what people may think.

“The support that we received from Syngenta last year, together with our other partners, allowed us to deliver our It Starts With Me awareness campaign, which is aimed at shifting the dialogue and language related to mental health, and also to deliver mental health first aid training to communities across Canada,” say Kim Keller and Lesley Kelley, the co-founders of The Do More Agriculture Foundation. “We are grateful for this support and look forward to working with Syngenta in 2019 to continue our work in this space.”

Founded in 2017, Do More Ag is a non-profit organization focusing on mental health in agriculture across Canada.