I heard about the AgriStress Helpline at the Oregon State University Alumni Pendleton Roundup dinner. It just happened that I had the opportunity to meet Allison Myers, Associate Dean for Extension and Engagement in the College of Health at the event. The AgriStress Helpline idea started when she was talking with Todd Nash, Oregon Cattlemen's President at another dinner event. Todd knew about the suicide risk among the agricultural sector. Data shows that people in agricultural are at a high risk for suicide at a rate double to many other occupations. Together Nash and Myers contaced State Representative Bobby Levy and State Senator Bill Hansell who sponsored a bill to provide funding that passed in 2023. The Oregon State Extension service provides the outreach service for AgriStress to the agricultural community. Kaycee Headley serves as the agent responsible for outreach and engagement with the public regarding AgriStress Helpline. AgriStress Helpline provides support to the agricultural communities in Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas,Virginia,Washington and Wyoming. The call center is in Kentucky and specialists are 'farm response certified trained'. They know about farm financing, rural livability struggles, succession planning, and factors that impact people working in agriculture. The call center staff answers the phone to see how you are doing,said Headley. If the response sounds concerning they are trained to immediately provide crisis counseling. They an also refer the caller to specialists and service providers from the local area. The call specialist will followup with the caller the next day to inquire again how they are doing, said Headley. Rural men 49 years and older typically only trust their spouses about mental health resources. Agricultural people as a group, may find it difficult to talk about stress, coping, and other mental health challenges that we all face. OSU Extension has been reaching out to educate couples about AgriStress Helpline features and benefits. A wife might know about her husband's mental health issues and can contact AgriStress Helpline to learn how to support him and/ or to receive support for herself . Connections have been made with the Oregon Cattlewomen's Assn and the Fishermen's Wives of Newport to inform then about the program. AgriStress Helpline is making an impact! There have been calls for help from 22 out of Oregon's 36 counties. The phone call is totally confidential. Headley shared that when the summer fires were impacting small rural Oregon communities the AgriStress helpline reached out to the Burns and John Day communities offering support. The concern could have been as simple as needing hay and responders provided guidance and answers. How is the AgriStress Helpline different than 988? Both the AgriStress Helpline and 988 offer quality suicide crisis services – but AgriStress Helpline crisis specialists have extra training to know the culture, values, stressors, and living experiences of agriculture, forestry, and fishing workers. No matter where they are, callers will be offered help. So, when someone calls the AgriStress Helpline, a crisis support specialist will use a care navigation process, to provide the caller with care that is relevant to their situation and needs. Phone calls have interpretation available in 160 languages. AgriSafe Network is a national 501©3 nonprofit that works to educate healthcare professionals and agriculture workers about the health and safety needs of those in the agriculture, fishing, and forestry industries. Their mission is to protect the people who feed the world. AgriStress Helpline is a worthy service that provides needed support for the people involved in the agricultural, forestry and fishing communities.
Comments