Events scheduled on Oct. 14 and Oct. 28
By Diego Flammini
News Reporter
Farms.com
The importance of mental health will be the focus of two Manitoba Women’s Institute (MWI) events scheduled later this month.
The second annual Manitoba Rural Women’s Day is Sat., Oct. 14 at the Minnedosa Community Conference Centre. Another event is scheduled for Sat., Oct. 28 at the Community Hall in Komarno.
The event’s theme is “A Healthy Mind is a Treasure to Find,” and rural women are encouraged to share their stories, network and discover mental health resources.
“It’s a chance for rural Manitoba women to get together, learn and discuss mental health,” Debbie Melosky, a provincial board member with MWI and chair of the Rural Women’s Day planning committee, told Farms.com today. “We’ll have guest speakers, fireside chats and display tables with mental health resource information at both events.”
What makes this event unique is that attendees of last year’s women’s day event chose the topic.
During the 2016 event, attendees completed evaluations and feedback forms, and identified topics for future conferences.
Mental health and the need for resources were identified by many women, according to Melosky.
“Mental health came up numerous times and was rated as the top concern amongst the women in attendance,” she said. “Mental health isn’t very-well understood and it also became very clear there’s a disparity between the services available in an urban centre compared to parts of rural Manitoba.”
And because mental health can’t be tackled during one event, it may be the theme of next year’s conference, she added.
Any women interested in attending either of the Manitoba Rural Women’s Day events must register beforehand.
A full list of guest speakers can be found below.
