Dept. of Agriculture offers 5 virtual mental-health workshops for rural residents on five Tuesdays starting May 9

The U.S. Department of Agriculture will highlight mental health in a series of weekly workshops May 9 through June 6, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. ET each Tuesday. The series will gather farmers, ranchers, faith leaders, rural health providers, USDA employees, and federal, state and university partners to discuss mental-health challenges, stressors, and the resources and services available to address them. These meetings will be conducted virtually using Zoom.gov. A link to the workshop will be provided upon registration; contact center@usda.gov with any questions. Click here and see below for more information and to register.

May 9: Farm Stress and Suicide Prevention: Data, Challenges, and Opportunities: This session provides context for the issue of farm stress and suicide by focusing on available data, challenges, and opportunities for farm stress researchers, practitioners, and service providers. Panelists include the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture, the American Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Aid, and others to discuss the state of the field and offer insights into their respective partner programs, resources, and emergent needs. Register

May 16: Veterans Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Workshop: Rural veterans experience a significantly increased risk of suicide. In this workshop, you will learn how to act with care and compassion if you encounter a veteran who is in crisis or experiencing suicidal thoughts. Register

May 23; Rural Mental Health Matters: Challenges, Opportunities and Resources for Communities: This session focuses on the resources and tools that are available in rural places, where over 60% of Americans live in mental-health provider shortage areas. Speakers will examine programs focused on giving rural and frontier communities the tools they need to thrive through creative problem solving. With perspectives rooted in rural services, behavioral health, and technology, the presentations and follow-on conversation will explore the importance of increasing the efficiency of providers in rural areas and other solutions, to challenges that rural communities face to ensure community wellbeing and economic prosperity. Register

May 30: Farm Stress and Suicide: Faith, Place, and Community Health: This session provides an overview of the USDA Center for Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships and highlights the challenges faced by many Americans during Mental Health Awareness Month. A training on farm stress, health and well-being will be provided by The Well Church Initiative of Texas A&M Extension to discuss and highlight tools and resources available to faith and community-based organizations as they support their congregants and communities. Register

June 6: LGBTQ+ Mental Health in Rural Communities: This session will focus on the lived experienced of LGBTQ+ identifying folks in rural communities across the country. Discussion and dialogue will focus on mental health, the relationship to stress, and more. Register