Paul J. Wong, Registered Psychotherapist

03/20/2025

OFA members have 100 percent coverage and can be referred to yours truly. You'll need to specifically ask for me though ;)

Becoming a mental health advocate for your local agricultural community is supporting your local economy.

The Guardian Network is a volunteer, peer-driven community of mental health advocates that supports Ontario’s agricultural community.

Become a Guardian today by taking the FREE training: https://www.guardiannetwork.ca/

Need support now?
Farmer Wellness Initiative: 1-866-267-6255

Huron Perth Helpline and Crisis Response Team: 1-888-829-7484

CMHA Huron Perth: 1-888-261-9350

Huron-Perth Centre for Children and Youth: 1-888-260-3924

Community Mental Health Service:
519-524-8316

www.cswbhuron.ca

05/30/2023

Planting season, hay season, that late spring rush of adrenaline paired with all those thoughts and feelings we tend to bury down. Sometimes I wonder if these old barn beams could share the stories of all the farmers who had no one to talk to but the animals.
For all you fellow farmer folks, I’d be happy to talk.
I know you’re busy and it’s just one more thing on the to do list.
I know it’s not easy to make time to get off the farm.
I guess that’s why I meet with so many farmers online or over the phone.
But if you’re local to blyth, feel free to give me a shout and come on into the office.

Just thought I’d put it out there. Feel free to share. No one should have to do it alone or be stuck asking for advice from a stinky old billy goat. Judging from his life choices, It’s terrible advise anyways.

05/27/2023

Burnout is more than just feeling tired at the farm. It’s an emotional, mental, and physical reaction to constant stress. When farm demands and pressures constantly pile up, it takes a toll on you. You might start to feel unappreciated, overworked and irritable.

Burnout is a thief of energy and productivity and can spread into your personal life. You might come home feeling completely drained and dread the next day. You feel you have nothing left in your tank or you simply stop caring.

If you are feeling this way, you’re not alone. Many farmers in Canada are on the verge of burnout, according to a study conducted by the University of Guelph in Ontario, putting farmers at risk of developing chronic diseases and mental health challenges. The study found that nearly half of participants felt ineffective, disengaged or overextended.

In farming, one of our values is hard work. Maybe in the past, you were told that you needed to work seven days a week, twelve hours or more per day, so that’s what you’ve always done.

Maybe you think or feel you have no choice but that if you want to be successful, you simply have to work yourself to the extremes to get ahead.

And maybe, the exhaustion and stress has become so normal that you don’t know anything different.

That’s why it’s so important that we talk about burnout in agriculture.

To learn more about burnout visit our Wellness Tips or visit our YouTube channel! https://www.domore.ag/wellness-tips