Kansas receives $500k grant to address mental health in agriculture communities

KANSAS Metropolis, Mo. — Kansas acquired a $500,000 grant from the U.S. Division of Agriculture Aimed in the direction of destigmatizing psychological well being and assisting the agriculture group on Friday.

“Kansas farmers and ranchers feed the world – they’re essential to society, and my administration will proceed To make the most of every useful resource out there to assist them,” Kansas Governor Laura Kelly said in a press launch. “I even Want to thank the USDA and the Kansas Division of Agriculture for prioritizing the psychological well being of Kansas’ agriculture group.”

The Kansas Division of Agriculture will use the funding To Increase consciousness for the KansasAgStress.org internet website, to develop reusable media and to work in the direction of reducing suicide prices Amongst The numerous Kansas agriculture workforce.

“Mental well being is well being, and we should proceed to wrestle the stigma by way of accessible useful assets Simply like the Kansas Ag Stress internetwork — particularly as suicide prices are climbing in rural areas,” U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids (D-Kansas) said.

Kansas suicide prices have elevated by almost 45% over the previous 20 years, Based mostly on a September 2021 Kansas Health Institute evaluation. Suicide prices in frontier and rural counties elevated at A greater price than extra populated areas.

The USDA Nationwide Institute of Meals and Agriculture introduced It is investing almost $25 million complete into 50 grants assisting state Farm and Ranch Stress Help Community tasks throughout the nation.