Helping sow the seeds of change
The power of change can start anywhere.
Saskatchewan has a rich history of driving change, particularly in healthcare. Recently, The Shaunavon Standard sat down with Dr. Merle Massie, executive director of The Do More Agriculture Foundation, to discuss the origins of Medicare and mental healthcare, as well as its current trajectory.
Massie delivered a presentation at the Swift Current Museum last month that focused on the Southwest and the roots of Medicare. The Do More Agriculture Foundation, meanwhile, is a national-level charitable organization that aims to create awareness and build solutions to mental health issues in the farming community.
Dr. Massie, who runs a family farm with her husband near Biggar, is also a historian who has authored numerous articles and books, primarily on Saskatchewan history. On top of that, she leads The Do More Agriculture Foundation, which works to empower and support farming communities to take care of their mental well-being.
Massie says she had an early interest in healthcare issues. Her father was born at the Red Cross Outpost hospital in Paddockwood, Saskatchewan. Built in 1920, it was the first such outpost hospital erected in the entire British Empire and served the community for three decades.
'This idea that local changes can affect people's healthcare is crucial,' Massie emphasized. 'Healthcare has always been part of our family's story.'
However, it was her brother's tragic passing due to mental illness that sparked her own journey in writing and education, which continues to this day.
As she shared her story, she highlighted the importance of community and the power of change.
'People need to understand they have the power to change,' she explained. 'By learning from history, we can see where Medicare came from – people have driven change in the past.'
Dr. Massie's words are timely, as the issue of suicide is a significant mental health concern in agricultural communities. Stress and anxiety are major factors in farm life, and many living in rural communities have little access to mental health services.
Dr. Massie notes, 'Tommy Douglas advocated for treating mental healthcare equally with physical healthcare, making no distinction between illnesses.'
When asked about farmers' mental health, Dr. Massie stated, 'Bringing about change involves supporting farms and farm families in recognizing mental health issues and seeking help. This requires a dual approach – individual support and community building. Mental health conversations were previously suppressed, and our foundation aims to shed light on this critical issue in agriculture.'
The reluctance to discuss mental health has led to higher suicide rates, anxiety, and domestic issues in the agricultural community. 'Let's change how we talk about healthcare – and make a difference,' added Massie.
Dr. Massie says that learning from history and understanding the power of change can drive positive reform. Each region in Saskatchewan has its unique healthcare story that led to its development. Mental healthcare can follow a similar path with early intervention, regional care, and community-based care.
Saskatchewan supports Canadian research into mental health. With influential voices like Dr. Massie, we can better integrate mental healthcare into Medicare.
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