Mental health training program available specifically with rural Albertans in mind

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on January 9, 2026.

asmith@medicinehatnews.com

The Stigma-Free Mental Health Society will offer a two-day mental health training program for rural and agricultural communities across Alberta.

Focused on the idea of peer support, the Two-Day Rural Minds Matter Peer Support Training program is designed for anyone eager to open up conversations about mental health and provide support within their communities. The next cohort of training will be conducted online on the weekend of Jan. 24 and 25, from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. MST on both days.

“We recognize that mental health struggles have surged in rural and agricultural communities, becoming a new pandemic,” said co-founder and president of SFMHS Andrea Paquette. “This training program is designed to help community members break down the stigma around mental health, take immediate action and forge a new path in tackling these challenges through peer-to-peer conversations.”

Attendees will explore foundational concepts of peer support on day one, including models of care, defining compassion and core values. Day two will focus on implementing these theories by creating Peer Support Groups tailored to their communities.

Participants will also receive an instructional manual to assist their group development while addressing barriers and challenges.

Those interested can register for the program at register.ruralmentalwellness.com, for a fee of $50 to cover the administrative costs.

“Implementing peer support is crucial in rural communities, where services are often limited due to factors like distance, infrastructure challenges, long wait times and the ongoing stigma associated with seeking help,” said SFMHS.

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