Our Team
Lauren Van Ewyk, M.Sc.MHC, RSW
Co-Founder, CEO
Lauren Van Ewyk is an engaging speaker, registered social worker, foster mom and agricultural mental health advocate. She has appeared in numerous radio, television and print articles concerning the issues of adoption, foster care, mental wellness and mental health in the agriculture sector.
Lauren works with businesses, individuals and families all across Canada to find hope and healing.
She and her husband raise sheep in southwestern Ontario.
Carrie Pollard, MSW, RSW
Co-Founder
Carrie is a registered social worker, grain farmer, and mother of five kids and a basset hound named Henry. She brings 20 years of clinical experience to her role at the National Farmer Mental Health Alliance.
With a background in research and a dabbler in all things creative, she is involved in the writing, research and development for our Ag-Informed Therapy training, workshops and e-literacy services.
Iris Parr
Director of Communication
Iris Parr is a wife, mother, teacher and author. She lives in northern Alberta with her husband Jason and daughter Olivia. Their forever 4 ½ year old son, Mikail, passed away unexpectedly in 2015. She can be found managing their Air BnB: The Urban Cottage, helping renovate their 1946 home, encouraging others on social media: @irisparr, as well as on her blog: www.irisparr.ca and through her recently published Advent Devotional A Thrill of Hope—Finding Hope, Peace, Joy and Love in the Minor Notes of Christmas.
Angie Brenner
Community Engagement Lead
As Community Engagement Lead, I will work with those looking to join us as volunteers, ambassadors and affiliate therapists to promote health and wellness in the agricultural community. I grew up in a family with deep roots in farming throughout Ontario, and I am raising my family on a sixth-generation family farm in Oxford County. I am deeply committed to advancing mental health awareness in agriculture. I believe that by creating strong advocates and enhancing therapists’ knowledge of the unique challenges faced by producers and their families we will strengthen our communities and future generations of farmers.
Mary Jane McDowell
Intake and Operations Lead
As the Intake and Operations Lead, I am committed to providing timely assistance to farmers and their families facing mental health challenges. Time spent on my grandparents’ dairy farm growing up taught me the vital role that farmers play and the hard work that is involved in bringing food to our tables. Together I believe we can raise awareness in the agricultural community to make self care and attention to mental health a priority
Leann Benedetti, DVM, TICC, ACC, CCFP, BSc
Director of Veterinary Care
Dr. Leann Benedetti is an experienced relationship-based veterinarian that has 27 years of lived experienced in mixed, small animal and mobile veterinary practice, and practice ownership. She is also a serial entrepreneur, ICF Certified Coach, mentor, public speaker, a mother, daughter, wife, pet parent, servant leader, volunteer contributor for multiple diverse organisations, CVO Peer Advisor and veterinary peer supporter.
In this role with the NFMHA Dr. Benedetti fulfills another value – Contribution, and brings her unique perspective and skillset to help build connection, collaboration, understanding and belonging on behalf of, and within, the agriculture, veterinary, and therapeutic communities.
Desaray Skretting
Co-Director of Student Engagement
Desaray was blessed to be the fourth generation to help work on the family farm in Southern Alberta where her family raised beef cattle and grew grain crops. She has since moved to pursue additional education and is currently a master’s of counselling psychology student from Yorkville University while working part-time in the veterinary industry.
Desaray has a passion for sharing about the importance of agricultural informed therapy as well as helping other mental health professionals understand the unique demands of the Ag/veterinary industry.
Katie Anderson
Co-Director of Student Engagement
Katie Anderson is known for the many hats she wears in life. She is a wife, mother, teacher, counsellor, rancher, and self proclaimed karaoke star.
Katie is passionate about agriculture, and mental health awareness within the industry. She is trained in Mental Health First Aid, and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST). Katie hopes that through her work with NFMHA that she can meet the needs of the agricultural community, and help people in the ag industry look at seeking help- be it through therapy, seminars, or anything in between- as an act of wellness, not illness. She is excited for this opportunity and looks forward to connecting with students interested in becoming Ag Informed Therapists!
