The Kentucky Department of Agriculture has appointed its first advisory council for its Raising Hope mental health program. It helps give farmers and other rural Kentuckians easier access to resources.
"We've always known that there had been a mental health crisis across rural Kentucky,” Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles said. “But after COVID-19, we realized that this was a nationwide problem that not just affected the farming community, but really our society as a whole."
Quarles says farmers can face unique mental health challenges because of specific issues in their field.
"Sometimes when we have bad weather, most Kentuckians are unaffected by it,” Quarles said. “But if you're a farmer, sometimes that bad weather can lead to financial loss. Another mental stress is that farming is highly complex. And you don't get paid every few weeks, like most jobs."
Nine members, including farmers, college professors and agriculture experts were appointed to the council. That includes:
Ryan Bivens, Hodgenville, farmer
Kendal Bowman, Owenton, Owen County ag and natural resources agent
Elizabeth Gordon, Frankfort, Director of Education and Outreach at Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Susan Jones, Bowling Green, professor emerita at Western Kentucky University School of Nursing and Allied Health
Source: weku.org
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ben-goode
Categories: Kentucky, Government & Policy