2025 Workplace Mental Health Studentships
- Chelsea Cunningham for SHRF
- 2 hours ago
- 2 min read
Full profile from Mental Health Research Canada found here.
Mental Health Research Canada's Studentship program provides funding to support students through a 6-month mental health research project co-supervised by an academic supervisor and a community-based supervisor. The studentship model provides students with opportunities to have a direct impact on their communities and to develop their skills as the next generation of mental health researchers.
A dedicated Workplace Mental Health Studentship call offered a unique opportunity to drive meaningful change and advance mental well-being in the workplace. Findings from MHRC's newest Mental Health in the Workplace Report show that nearly 1 in 2 employees say their mental health has affected their job performance.
One Saskatchewan student is receiving funding in the Workplace Mental Health call to understand how mental health counsellors support farmers and what can be done to improve access to care.
The Funded Studentship:
Taylor Spock, University of Saskatchewan & SaskAgMatters
Supervisors: Tracey Carr, Michelle Pavloff
Understanding Counsellors’ Perspectives on the Mental Health and Well-being of Farmers: An Interpretive Descriptive Study
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Farmers in Saskatchewan face unique pressures – from unpredictable weather and financial stress to long work hours and isolation – that can take a serious toll on their mental health. This project is motivated to better understand how mental health counsellors support farmers and what can be done to improve access to care. Our community partner, SaskAgMatters Mental Health Network Inc., is a not-for-profit organization founded by Saskatchewan farmers, ranchers, and researchers to establish a farm-culture-friendly mental health support system for Saskatchewan agricultural producers.
SaskAgMatters’ counsellors will be interviewed to explore how counselling for farmers differs from the general population, what challenges and barriers exist, and insights that could improve service design and delivery. Using an Interpretive Description approach, the project seeks to develop practical insights that can strengthen existing services and guide future supports for the Saskatchewan farming community.
A key part of this project is collaboration with farmer research partners, who work alongside the research team to ensure the study reflects real farming experiences and leads to meaningful, grounded recommendations. This project aims to improve mental health supports that truly meet the needs of Saskatchewan’s farmers and rural communities.
This project is co-funded in partnership with Mental Health Research Canada, Mitacs, and iA Financial Group, and made possible in partnership with Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation.
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