To commemorate Mental Health Awareness Month, CDA hosted a virtual discussion about rural mental health.
Our speakers included representatives from partner organizations based across Colorado and we touched on how stress and factors outside of our control can affect mental and physical health of farmers, ranchers, and others in agricultural communities.
Our panelists included:
- Rebecca Edlund of Colorado Farm Bureau and the Colorado Agricultural Addiction and Mental Health Program, which provides 6 free sessions with an ag competent provider
- Clinton Wilson, with AgWell, a program connecting rural communities to stress management resources
- Chad Reznicek from the Colorado AgrAbility program, which provides assistive technology to farmers and ranchers
- Hannah Bates, a southern Colorado rancher who runs the Coffee Break Project through Southeast Health Group
- Mariel Balbuena from the La Plata Family Centers Coalition, which works directly with agricultural workers in the Four Corners region of Colorado
The panel was moderated by Olga Robak, Communications Director for the Colorado Department of Agriculture.
Watch the recording of our mental health virtual discussion!
Here are some of the resources mentioned in the video:
Colorado Agricultural Addiction and Mental Health Program (CAAMHP): Free vouchers for agricultural workers seeking behavioral health services. CAAMHP provides members of our agricultural and rural communities with six free sessions to an ag-friendly, licensed behavioral health professional. It’s anonymous and in many cases, can be accessed remotely.
Adolescent Support Workshop to provide a supportive environment where parents and other adolescent care givers can work together with licensed behavioral health professionals to identify available resources, learn about addiction, grow in constructive parenting styles specific to addiction, and create safety plans.
Colorado Crisis Services: free, confidential, and immediate support via phone, text, or in-person at walk-in centers. Call 1-844-493-8255 or Text “TALK” to 38255
Agrability Colorado: Agrability helps farmers with disabilities, injuries, long-term illness, or another functional limitation find no-cost solutions to the physical difficulties of farm work. Brochure here.
Health First Colorado: Colorado has a Medicaid program specifically for working adults with disabilities. If you have an approved disability you may be eligible for reduced or free health care.
National Center for FarmWorker Health Helpline: Bilingual (Spanish/English) hotline that provides health information and referral services for farmworkers and their families.
Four Corners Resource Guide from the La Plata Family Centers Coalition, which provides information on food, utility, health care, housing, and other assistance programs (PDF version here).