UPDATE APRIL 12, 2022:
SDSU Extension, the South Dakota Department of Social Services, and the South Dakota Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources have launched an Agriculture Behavioral Health Voucher program.
The purpose of this voucher program is to provide access to free counseling services for farmers, ranchers and their family members.
Andrea Bjornestad, SDSU Extension Mental Health Specialist, says the suicide rate for those that work in agriculture is 1.5 times higher than those that work in other occupations. She says when mental health begins to decline, safety can also become an issue.
According to Bjornestad, her most recent study of producers in the region suggested that a little over one in every four farmers reported mild to severe depressive symptoms and a little over one in every four farmers reported mild to severe anxiety symptoms. She says there are multiple barriers that can hinder producers seeking mental health care, some of which are cost, distance to services and access to mental health providers.
To access Agriculture Behavioral Health Vouchers, producers and their immediate family members can call 211, the Avera Farm and Rural Stress Health Hotline (1-800-691-4336) or Bjornestad at 605-688-5125.
Bjornestad says the goal of the Agricultural Behavioral Health Voucher program is to allow greater access to mental health services in the agricultural community by reducing the cost of such services and providing access to telemental health services. She says in addition to improving depressive and anxiety symptoms, counseling can be helpful for relationship issues, improving family communication, discussing generational transitions in farming, decreasing stress, learning effective coping skills and managing grief or loss.
For more information on the voucher program, please visit the 605 Strong Website at 605strong.com.
NOVEMBER 3, 2021:
Recent grant awards to state agriculture departments are the latest steps in building upon a network designed to aid ag producers dealing with stresses. Rod Bain with the US Department of Agriculture has more.
In South Dakota, the state Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources has allocated $500,000 in funding to support mental and behavioral health programs for rural areas and specifically farmers and ranchers across the state.
Secretary Hunter Roberts says months of drought in addition to low prices for cattle producers has taken a toll on farmers and ranchers across the state. He strongly encourages producers to take advantage of these resources and reach out for assistance if you need it; No one should wait until they are in crisis to look for the care they need.
DANR is partnering with the Department of Social Services, Avera Health and South Dakota State University Extension to fund new and existing programs.
DSS will receive $120,000 to support its Behavioral Health Voucher Program through 605 Strong. The program will be managed by the DSS Division of Behavioral Health. With this funding, farmers and ranchers will now be eligible to receive mental health or substance use disorder counseling at no cost. To access this program, call 211 or visit https://www.605strong.com/#voucher-program.
Avera will receive $100,000 to support its Farm and Rural Stress Hotline. This funding will assist with operational costs for the hotline to continue to support our producers. Farmers and ranchers can reach the hotline at 1-800-691-4336.
SDSU Extension will receive $245,000 to support new and existing mental health programs targeting producers. This includes agricultural behavioral health training for professionals and expanding programs, including: Sustaining the Legacy and QPR Institute suicide prevention trainings across South Dakota.
DANR will receive $35,000 to promote the expansion of the Behavioral Health Voucher Program.
Comments