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New online course provides mental health resources

A new resource is available to provide practical support strategies and information to help navigate mental health challenges in rural communities.

Julie Lux says Rural Minds has partnered with Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and NY FarmNet to provide the “Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Rural America” course. “It’s targeted to veterinarians because we know how important veterinarians are in rural communities and what a big part they frequently play,” he says. “They may be the people that can see those signs.”

She tells Brownfield the course is also tailored to ag industry professionals and veterinary students, but it’s available for anyone interested. “It really provides practical tips such as identifying and recognizing those warning signs, she says.  “But also how to respond to them when you do see them.”

Lux says if someone isn’t comfortable reaching out, there are other resources available, such as 24/7 hotlines and local support groups. 

Research has shown that rural communities have approximately 65% higher rates of suicide in their population compared to urban areas, and farmers are twice as likely than those in other occupations to die by suicide. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a free, 24-hour-a-day service that connects people to crisis counselors and resources. 

Efforts are underway to change the routing of 988 calls from area code to geo-routing, which would route calls to the nearest cell tower based on the caller’s location rather than the phone number’s area code. The Federal Communications Commission will vote next month to make geo-routing a requirement.

The course is free of charge from Cornell, and Lux says it takes about 45 minutes to complete.  

AUDIO: Julie Lux, Rural Minds

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