Rural Health Association Hosts Mental Health Workshop In Warsaw Feb. 15
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS — To observe National Rural Health Day this week, Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, the Indiana State Department of Agriculture, along with the Indiana Rural Health Association, are announcing three new mental health initiatives geared towards farmers and those in the agricultural community, including one in Warsaw.
Titled Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives, these initiatives include community workshops, virtual suicide prevention trainings and one-hour sessions for agribusinesses covering mental health stigmas and the resources available to help those in need. Each event is free of charge.
“First, these initiatives will increase basic awareness of existing mental health resources in the agricultural community,” Crouch said. “They will also help identify stressors, reduce the stigma and better recognize mental health needs within the farming industry. And by making them free and open to anyone, I am hopeful that several rural Hoosiers will attend and learn how to help themselves and one another.”
ISDA will be working with the IRHA to help those who live and work in agriculture become more comfortable speaking about mental health care options by holding free, regional community workshops across Indiana. Conversations about mental health stigma and resources, as well as recognizing signs of those in mental health distress, will be discussed.
Community workshops and online suicide prevention trainings are open to anyone wanting to learn more about mental health in agriculture including, but not limited to, farmers, farming families, agribusinesses, loan officers, religious leaders, rural health care workers and more.
IRHA is currently hosting:
- Three regional community workshops held from 8-11 a.m. Dec. 7, at Ivy Tech, Logansport; 8-11 a.m. Jan. 18, at Community Foundation, Seymour; and 8-11 a.m. Feb. 15, at Fireman’s, Building in Warsaw
- Three virtual online suicide prevention trainings, titled Question, Persuade, Refer. These will be held Jan. 4, Feb. 8 and March 1.
- One-hour agribusiness-focused sessions, which include educational sessions where an agribusiness or organization can host the IRHA to present to their staff, board members or rural community members on mental health services and stigmas surrounding agriculture. These sessions can be stand alone services or in conjunction with an already scheduled meeting. To schedule a one-hour educational training for your employees, board members or others, contact Kathy Walker at [email protected].
To learn more, see additional training opportunities or to register, visit indianaruralhealth.org.