Guelph, Ontario, Canada A contribution on behalf of Syngenta Canada employees in the amount of $30,000, sees Syngenta returning as a supporter and partner of The Do More Agriculture Foundation and their work around mental health in the Canadian agriculture sector in 2019. “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.1 It’s research results like these, together with personal experience and the knowledge that we can and should ‘do more’ that has The Do More Ag team concentrating their efforts on promoting awareness, building community, and facilitating research to help Canadian producers feel encouraged, supported and empowered to focus on their mental health.“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.” “Not only are we in the Spring season, but this week is Mental Health Week in Canada,” says Syngenta’s Heck. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, this is the 68th year that Canadians in communities, schools, and workplaces have rallied around Mental Health Week. "We all have mental health just like we all have physical health and during this week, we are encouraged to get loud about what mental health really is, something that we strongly support and encourage Canadian agriculture to do.” #GetLoud#MentalHealthWeek#DoMoreAg1 National Survey of Farmer Mental Health, Submission to the Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food, Sept. 2015, by Dr. Andria Jones-BittonAbout SyngentaSyngenta is a leading agriculture company helping to improve global food security by enabling millions of farmers to make better use of available resources. Through worldclass science and innovative crop solutions, our 28,000 people in over 90 countries are working to transform how crops are grown. We are committed to rescuing land from degradation, enhancing biodiversity and revitalizing rural communities. To learn more, visit www.syngenta.com and www.goodgrowthplan.com. Follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Syngenta and www.twitter.com/SyngentaCanada.About the Do More Agriculture FoundationFounded in 2017, Do More Ag is a non-profit organization focusing on mental health in agriculture across Canada. Do More Ag champions the mental well-being of all Canadian producers; changing the culture of agriculture to one where all producers are encouraged, supported and empowered to take care of their mental well-being. Do More Ag’s focus and efforts are driven by three pillars: awareness, community and research.Disclaimer: The Do More Agriculture Foundation and its corresponding activities are not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.
