INDIANAPOLIS – In honor of National Rural Health Day, Governor Suzanne Crouch, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, along with the Indiana Rural Health Association, are announcing three new mental health initiatives aimed at farmers and those in the community agricultural.
Entitled “Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives,” these initiatives include community workshops, virtual suicide prevention training and one-hour sessions for agribusinesses that cover mental health stigmas and the resources available to help those in need. Each event is free.
“First, these initiatives will increase grassroots awareness of existing mental health resources in the agricultural community,” Crouch said. “They will also help identify stressors, reduce stigma and better recognize mental health needs within the agricultural industry. And by making them free and open to anyone, I hope some rural Hoosiers will participate and learn how to help themselves and each other.”
ISDA will work with IRHA to help those who live and work in agriculture become more comfortable talking about mental health care options by holding free, regional community workshops throughout Indiana. Conversations about mental health stigma and resources, as well as recognizing the signs of those in mental health distress, will be discussed.
“Indiana is a very rural state with many agricultural and farming bases in many towns and cities. These workshops, agribusiness sessions and suicide prevention training will work to provide these communities with the tools they need to recognize the stress, mental health issues and mental health crises that can unfortunately lead to to suicide attempts,” said Kathy Walker, Program Director, Indiana Rural Heath. Association. “It is extremely important that we reach out to our farmers, farm families, agribusinesses and those who provide services to the agricultural community.”
Community workshops and online suicide prevention trainings are open to anyone who wants to learn more about mental health in agriculture, including, but not limited to, farmers, farm families, agribusinesses, loan officers, religious leaders , rural healthcare workers and more.
IRHA is hosting three regional community workshops:
Dec. 7, Ivy Tech, Logansport, 8-11 a.m.;
Jan. 18, Community Foundation, Seymour, 8-11 a.m.; AND
February 15, Fireman’s, Warsaw, 8-11am
IRHA is hosting three virtual online suicide prevention training sessions, entitled Ask, Convince, Refer (QPR):
January 4, February 8 and March 1. All three sessions can be joined at this link: indianaruralhealth.org/events/2023/01/04/virtual-event/healthy-minds-healthy-lives-qpr-training/.
The one-hour agribusiness-focused sessions include educational sessions where an agribusiness or organization can host IRHA to present to their staff, board members or rural community members about mental health services and the stigma surrounding agriculture.
These sessions can be stand-alone services or in conjunction with an already scheduled appointment. To schedule a one-hour educational training for your employees, board members or others, contact Kathy Walker at kwalker@indianarha.org.
“Some of these community workshops were held last year and we’re excited to get them up and running again, along with new programs as well,” said ISDA Director Bruce Kettler. “Agribusinesses perform extremely important and stressful operations throughout the year. Hoosiers and millions around the world would not eat without their commitment to raising animals and growing crops. I hope these workshops, training and online meetings can help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and show members of the rural community that there is help available.”
Cara Veale, CEO of IRHA, looks forward to the increased community opportunities within the Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives programming.
“We at the Indiana Rural Health Association are excited to be partnering with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture to provide a great program and resource for farmers and farm families. We understand the importance of healthy minds and want to be sure to support our Indiana farmers and their families by educating them about available resources and ways they can ensure positive mental health,” said Veale.
Last year, ISDA received a $500,000 grant from the United States Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network (FRSAN) Program. A portion of the funding was awarded to the Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) to reduce mental health stigma and connect individuals with resources.
To learn more, see additional training opportunities or to register, visit Indianruralhealth.org.
