Bringing the community together and looking for signs of mental-health struggles has become a priority for many in Lloydminster.
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Close to 400 residents of the Border City and surrounding area gathered at the Lloyd Ex on Monday, Nov. 17, to learn about becoming “first identifiers.”
The term, coined through an Alberta Association of Agricultural Societies (AAAS) mental-health initiative called Empowering Minds, focuses on building stronger rural communities and reducing the stigma associated with mental health.
First identifiers can recognize early signs of mental-health struggles and connect friends, neighbours and community members to the help they need.
Designed specifically for agricultural regions, the program acknowledges the unique stresses faced in rural life and emphasizes the importance of strong social connections, early intervention and community leadership in supporting mental well-being.
The evening featured a meal and presentation by speaker Ian Hill, who shared practical tools, personal stories and strategies to empower rural Albertans to look out for one another.
“What would happen if the nail tech, the personal trainer, the banker, the guy who sells seed to the farmer, the guy in the cubicle next to you, your neighbour — what if these people knew what to look for, what to listen for, what to say, and what to do?” said Hill prior to his presentation.
“It would completely transform the dynamic. That’s the simplicity of it. How do we activate regular people?”
When it comes to assets in rural Alberta communities such as Lloydminster, Hill believes there remains a strong sense of self-reliance and a deep-rooted commitment to being a good neighbour.
“Can we equip you with the tools for self-care? Can we equip you with the tools to help your neighbour? I think we can,” he said. “The simplicity of it is this: the people closest to the problem are usually best suited to solve that problem.”
According to Hill, a shift in attitudes toward reducing the stigma surrounding mental-health struggles is essential.
“Mothers Against Drunk Driving — many of your readers will remember a time when drunk family members got into cars and drove, and everyone at the party laughed. Today, if that same thing were to occur, they would tackle those individuals,” he explained.
“There was an attitudinal shift toward that subject. In the same sense, could we create an attitudinal shift toward this subject? I think we can.”
Hill also noted that experts aren’t always needed to get the ball rolling. “Look at CPR, which can be performed by regular people who are equipped with the tools needed. They’re not first responders — they’re first identifiers,” he said.
“Whether it’s cancer or other physical ailments, early detection is key, they tell us. But what about early detection in mental health? Let’s shift the stigma; let’s work hard to activate regular people for early detection.
“We’re trying to activate people who care about the subject matter. Maybe they care because, tragically, they had a situation in their family, or because they read about it, or are personally going through some challenges.”
Hill said the AAAS chose to partner with agricultural societies for Empowering Minds events because of the trust they’ve built in the communities they serve.
“Ag societies are about community, and in the Province of Alberta specifically, they’ve done some award-winning work,” he said, noting the initiative wouldn’t be possible without financial backing. “MCS Net stepped up immediately to fund these projects.”
Hill also applauded the work of the two local organizations that made the event possible — the Lloydminster Agricultural Exhibition Association and the Lloydminster Region Health Foundation.
“Tonight’s attendance is 100 per cent a reflection of the two organizations at the tip of the spear of this. It’s people’s belief in these organizations because of the credible people at the helm,” he said, adding that the mental-health journey doesn’t end at the close of the event.
“After tonight, every week for the next four weeks, all in attendance will get an email. We’re asking them to learn information and deploy it eight months from now, 10 months from now, a year from now.”
Each attendee received a certificate for their participation, which also served as a way of recognizing and owning the role they play in reducing stigma.
For more information on Empowering Minds, visit albertaagsocieties.ca/empoweringminds/.
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