An Odessa woman is the winner of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture’s (CFA) Brigid Rivoire Award for Champions of Agricultural Mental Health.
Deborah Vanberkel was selected for her work on the Farmer Wellness Program, a counselling service dedicated to the farming community.
The award recognizes a specific initiative that has made outstanding contributions in raising awareness, addressing stigma, and supporting mental health for farmers in their local community.
She received the award on February 25 during the CFA’s Annual General Meeting, held virtually for a national audience.
Vanberkel initiated the Farmer Wellness Program and worked with the Lennox & Addington Federation of Agriculture (LAFA) as well as the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to launch the program as a pilot in 2019, which has now graduated to a permanent program administered by LAFA and has expanded into four other counties and counting.
The core tenets of the program include four counselling sessions at no charge to the farmer, no lengthy wait times, flexible appointment options, and access to a counsellor with a background in agriculture.
The program aims to reduce the stigma associated with reaching out for help and eliminate common barriers such as financial cost and business hours that result in the farming community rarely getting the help they need.
Vanberkel’s passion for agriculture starts at home in Odessa, where she dairy farms with her husband Steve and two children.
They are the sole operators of a 40 milking cow farm.
Vanerkel is also a registered psychotherapist, and after many years counselling in a public agency, she started her own practice.
Thanks to technology, she is able to service rural clients across Ontario from her office in Napanee.
