Courtney Labrecque
Inuit Mental Health Workers: Strength, Challenges, and Retention
The FARMh Initiative began in 2019 to identify mental health programs and resources sought by Saskatchewan farmers and ranchers. Established in 2023 as part of FARMh’s knowledge-mobilization work, SaskAgMatters Mental Health Network Inc. offers free therapy supported by private donations. Its therapists have agricultural experience, and its volunteer board is made up of farmers and ranchers.
Courtney’s study evaluates the existing program from the perspective of therapists who provide the care. It seeks to understand the service model’s strengths and limitations and identify opportunities for future development.
Approach and methodology
Therapists working with SaskAgMatters will be invited to telephone interviews about their experiences of delivering the program. The evaluation will examine how the service currently operates, what it does well and where changes may help better meet participants’ needs.
The University of Saskatchewan Research Ethics Board determined that this work is exempt from ethics approval because it is a program evaluation.
Expected contribution
The intended outcome is a set of practical recommendations to inform SaskAgMatters’ strategic planning and ongoing service development, with potential benefits for accessible care tailored to Saskatchewan’s agricultural communities.
About the researcher
Courtney Labrecque is a graduate student in Gender, Sexualities, and Social Justice in the Department of Political Studies at the University of Saskatchewan. She holds a Bachelor of Arts and has worked as a research assistant and associate with the Saskatchewan Farmer and Rancher Mental Health (FARMh) Initiative since 2020.
Her work reflects a commitment to more equitable access to mental health support. Her graduate interests also include critical disability studies in education and the creation of inclusive environments.
