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Farm SOS partners with Illinois FFA to promote mental health resources

The mental health specialist with Farm SOS, formerly the Farm Family Resource Initiative, says a partnership with the Illinois FFA Association is helping spread the message of farmer mental health.

Rachel Brown says the organization has once again awarded grants to chapters across the state aimed at promoting mental health in agriculture.

“We call them Bend Don’t Break grants.”  She says, “They send in an application with a project idea that’s related to doing something to raise awareness about mental health in their community. Last year we selected 20 chapters and those chapters then receive some grant funding to carry out that project.”

She tells Brownfield the grants have funded a variety of projects.

“Meal bags to take out to farmers in the field during harvest and they’ve added in some of our mental health resources.”  She says, “There are other chapters that have done events like a 5K to raise awareness. Some of them are engaging other students.”

Brown says the goal is to fight some of the misconceptions about mental health, as well as spread awareness of available resources.

Illinois ag professionals can call 1-833-FARM-SOS for 24/7 assistance.

AUDIO: Rachel Brown – FARM SOS