The past few years have reflected a new openness to discuss mental health issues on the farm. Those problems have always been there, hidden in the felt shame of stigma. Today, however, there is new light shed on the subject and Ag folks are at the forefront of taking it head-on. A few short years ago, a group of providers consisting of Rocky Mountain Farmer Union (RMFU), Colorado AgrAbility, and numerous other behavioral health organizations, started to come together to discuss the issues and seek solutions. RMFU has a dedicated specialist whose function is to bring folks together with ideas.
So, again this year, RMFU has opened up its annual meeting to vendors so that an opportunity to meet face-to-face might help spread the word and the good work other agencies are doing. This information session was attended by professionals from mental health, farm credit, USDA/NIFA, and many others. The Colorado AgrAbility Project attended this information session and manned their table with a rural rehabilitation specialist and their behavioral health specialist. Staff were able to share AgrAbility's story with many in attendance throughout that day.
Submitted by Jim Craig