Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Putting cows on the front page since 1885.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding announced the launch of an AgriStress HelpLine for Pennsylvania farmers. The hotline is a free service available to Pennsylvania farmers and farm families seeking mental health support.
The AgriStress HelpLine for Pennsylvania is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Farmers can call (833) 897-AGRI (2474) to speak to a healthcare professional.
The AgriStress HelpLine for Pennsylvania is supported by a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network awarded to the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to carry out programming to address farmer stress and suicide. In addition to the Department’s partnership with AgriSafe to launch the hotline, the grant dollars support mental health resources available through the Center for Dairy Excellence, marketing to increase mental health awareness and reduce stigma, and regional collaboration with the National Young Farmers Coalition.
According to the American Farm Bureau Federation, financial challenges, farm or business problems and the fear of losing the farm are top contributors to farmers’ mental health. Cost, embarrassment and stigma often prevent farmers from seeking help or treatment for a mental health condition.
The AgriSafe Network is a non-profit organization that strives to reduce health disparities in agricultural communities. AgriSafe supports a network of trained agricultural health and safety professionals to provide preventative services for farm families. The AgriStress Response Network seeks to eliminate the stigma around accessing support for mental health including stress, depression, anxiety and suicide.
Anyone who works in Pennsylvania agriculture and wants to talk to someone is encouraged to contact the AgriStress Helpline by calling (833) 897-AGRI (2474).
For more information about the AgriStress HelpLine for Pennsylvania, visit agriculture.pa.gov and click on the Mental Wellness icon.
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