Rural Mental Health

People interested in participating in a working group focused on rural mental and behavioral health can now apply to be part of the Behavioral Health Working Group. The working group is tasked with supporting the Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) and the Behavioral Health Administration (BHA) in identifying gaps and compiling best practices for providing behavioral health care to agricultural communities.

A deep love for agriculture can be rewarding, joyful, and at times, painful. Colorado's agricultural community knows how to pull together to help each other navigate through stressful times. 

Join CDA and regional partners for food, camaraderie, and a meaningful discussion about mental health in our communities. 

The Colorado Agricultural Commission has approved funding for four projects through the new Rural Mental Health Grant Program. The Colorado Department of Agriculture will distribute nearly $200,000 in funding to improve how mental and behavioral health services are delivered across Colorado’s rural communities.

The beautiful bright fall colors were starting to spot the mountainside. It was mid-September, along the Arkansas River into Salida, Colorado where the inaugural Behavioral Health and Wellness in Agriculture Summit would be held. Organized by AgWell, a program of the Rocky Mountain Farmers Union, the summit had been a long time coming.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture has opened up the application period for a new grant that aims to support access to mental and behavioral health services in rural communities. The Department received an appropriation of $200,000 during the 2022 legislative session to support mental health services for farmers, ranchers, agricultural workers, and their communities. 

During the 2022 legislative session, the Colorado Department of Agriculture received an appropriation of $200,000 to dedicate to mental health programs.  

CDA will create a grant program that will be available to organizations serving rural communities in Colorado. CDA is working on establishing the requirements of the grants and will hold a listening session in mid-September to consider input from rural communities and other stakeholders. Applications will open up in early October and will be open for 30 calendar days.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture (CDA) is pleased to announce it has received $500,000 from the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA), part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), to support the vitality and mental wellbeing of Colorado's agricultural workers and producers through community-based efforts to manage the increasing stresses on our agricultural communities.