A message to producers from the Minster of Agriculture, Lana Popham:
On April 9, 2020 the Province announced that it is expanding its existing mental health programs and launching new services to support all British Columbians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Anyone experiencing anxiety, depression or other mental health challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, can now get help through virtual services. To that end, we wanted to reach out to you to ensure you were aware of these programs and services.
We know the commitment you have for agriculture, fish and food, but we also know that you may have many other concerns right now. We are doing our best to reach out to you to check-in and stay connected, but please know, if you need help, you are not alone.
You can access these virtual mental health supports on the following website: https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/health/managing-your-health/mental-health-substance-use/virtual-supports-covid-19.
On this website, you will find information on virtual counselling services, tips on managing stress, self-assessment tools, and many other resources.
Please free to reach out to your Ministry of Agriculture contacts with questions and concerns about your businesses, and for reliable and up-to-date information on the virus, please visit http://www.bccdc.ca/health-info/diseases-conditions/covid-19 or contact the dedicated 1-888-COVID-19 or 1-888-268-4319 phoneline.
