INTRODUCTION TO LIVESTOCK DEPOPULATION & THE MENTAL HEALTH IMPACT ON FARMERS

Webinar
MARCH 30, 2023
12:00 PM - 1:00PM MST

The relationship between farmers and their livestock is neither simple nor static. For farmers and farming communities, herds of cattle or flocks of sheep, chickens and turkeys are not only a source of income but are an ongoing part of their lives, often leading to a blurring of the socially constructed categories of ‘livestock’ and ‘pet.’ In the event of a farm-animal epidemic, the normal cycle of human-animal relations is disrupted, and the incident can have devastating effects on the farmer, the veterinarian, and the community.

In this webinar, you will learn about:

• the common farm-animal epidemics impacting Alberta farms,

• what depopulation is and why it is used,

• the current state of depopulation in Western Canada, and

• research examining the mental health impact of depopulation on farmers and veterinarians.

There will also be time for a Q+A at the end of the webinar.

This webinar is designed to increase knowledge of the current farm-specific stressors and resilience factors and develop therapeutic treatment approaches that work for farmers currently dealing with livestock depopulation.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS

DR. DELORES PETERS

Manager, Animal Health Surveillance Unit
Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation

Dr. Peters grew up on a mixed farm near Didsbury, Alberta. Dr. Peters completed her DVM degree in 1984 and has worked in mixed practice and in food animal research. While completing her degree in Veterinary Public Health Management in 2007, she began working for the provincial government and has been involved in disease surveillance programs for years. Dr. Peters has also participated in policy development and responses for reportable diseases.

DR. REBECCA PURC-STEPHENSON

Professor, Social Sciences Department
University of Alberta, Augustana Campus

Dr. Purc-Stephenson grew up near Woodstock, Ontario. Her family operated a small horse-boarding stable and sheep farm, and she worked as a labourer on a large turkey farm for many years. After completing her PhD in 2008, she moved to Alberta to work at the Augustana Campus. For the past 15 years, she has examined how individuals with chronic physical and/or mental health conditions adapt to chronic work stressors.