News Release from the Indiana State Department of Agriculture.



ISDA________________________________________________________________________

*NEWS RELEASE
*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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*Registration open for Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives*

*Mental **Health Workshops *

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*INDIANAPOLIS (Jan. 31, 2022)* ??Untreated or ignored stress and mental health issues in rural areas impact quality of life, economic development and lives of farmers, the agriculture workforce and rural families. To raise awareness and help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health in the agriculture industry the Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives [ [link removed] ] program was created by the Indiana Rural Health Association [ [link removed] ]. Twenty-three free, one-day insightful workshops with subject matter experts will be conducted in 2022. The workshops will begin Feb. 10, 2022, in Mount Vernon, Ind. The series of workshops will continue in 22 other rural sites around Indiana through July.

?Our rural communities are the backbone of our Indiana economy, and we can make them even stronger by supporting mental health and reducing stressors at home and in our communities,? said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Secretary of Agriculture. ?These workshops will give our farmers the resources to help their neighbors and their family members who may be struggling.?

The workshops aim to discuss the mental landscape in Indiana, highlight local resources, discuss telehealth options and contain information about the Purdue Farm Stress Program [ [link removed] ]. The Indiana Rural Health Association will also present a training for the Question, Persuade and Refer (QPR) program.

?We all know that farming is one of the most dangerous professions, and it is sadly also one of the most mentally taxing ones as well,? said Bruce Kettler, director of the Indiana State Department of Agriculture. ?Our department was honored to be awarded this grant from USDA and we believe using these funds in partnership with the Indiana Rural Health Association and Purdue Extension will greatly impact thousands of Hoosiers, and work to decrease the stigmas around mental health in agriculture.?

The free workshops through the Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives program are open to the farming community, including agribusinesses and related service industries, the faith community, local leaders and families.

?The suicide rates among farmers are six times higher than the national average,? said Kathy Walker, Indiana Rural Health Association (IRHA) program director for Healthy Minds ? Healthy Lives. ?Financial stress is always present, pressure to never lose the family farm is great, the work is physically and mentally stressful with long hours, social isolation and lack of confiding relationships.??

Each one-day workshop is limited to 35 people, so individuals interested in participating are encouraged to register early.

Stigma and other issues that discourage people from seeking help can result in higher suicide attempts and other mental health issues. These issues often are higher ? even double ? than in urban areas. Depression, suicide and other mental health struggles often rise during the seasonal times of planting and harvesting when stress levels are also higher.

These workshops are part of a partnership with the Indiana Rural Health Association [ [link removed] ], Purdue Extension [ [link removed] ] and the Indiana State Department of Agriculture [ [link removed] ] (ISDA). ISDA received a $500,000 grant [ [link removed] ] from the National Institute for Food and Agriculture?s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network in October of 2021.?

The list of current workshops is below. To register for a workshop please click here [ [link removed] ] or visit?indianaruralhealth.org.?Registration opens 30 days prior to each event.

*Date* *County* *Town* February 10 Posey Mt. Vernon February 23 Owen Spencer February 24 Boone Lebanon March 9 Hancock Greenfield March 10 Tipton Tipton March 16 Kosciusko Leesburg March 17 Fulton Rochester April 6 LaPorte LaPorte April 8 Jasper Rensselaer April 20 White Wolcott April 21 Warren Williamsport May 4 Montgomery Crawfordsville May 5 Johnson Whiteland May 18 Putnam Greencastle May 19 Sullivan Sullivan June 8? Daviess Washington June 9? Dubois Ireland June 22 Washington Salem June 23 Scott Scottsburg July 6 Ripley Osgood July 7 Randolph Winchester July 20 Huntington Huntington July 21 DeKalb Auburn

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For additional information about the Healthy Minds ? Healthy Lives QPR workshops, please contact Kathy Walker by email:[email protected]? <[email protected]>

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To download Lt. Gov. Crouch's audio please click here [ [link removed] ].?

To download ISDA Director Kettler's audio please click here [ [link removed] ].?

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Healthy Minds, Healthy Lives

*ABOUT ISDA
*"The?Indiana State Department of Agriculture [ [link removed] ]?(ISDA) was established as a separate state agency by the Legislature in 2005. Administratively, ISDA reports to?Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch [ [link removed] ], who also serves as Indiana?s Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. Major responsibilities include advocacy for Indiana agriculture at the local, state and federal level, managing soil conservation programs, promoting economic development and agricultural innovation, serving as a regulatory ombudsman for agricultural businesses, and licensing grain firms throughout the state."

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*Media Contact for ISDA:?
*Regan Herr
Phone: 317.552.9281
Email: [email protected]




ISDA




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