New Initiative Focuses on Farmers’ Mental Health – WSFA News, Montgomery, AL
By Rosanna Smith
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) - Rick Pate, commissioner of the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, says they are focused on making sure mental health is a priority among farmers in our state.
“We saw some statistics and it showed in a rural communities we were having a bigger issues. You think about it, farming by nature is fairly isolated, and then you remove people being able to go to churches and the schools are closed. And we know that can play into mental health,” said Pate.
Seeing a need, as we continue to navigate a pandemic, industry partners came together Monday for the inaugural mental health first aid training as part of the “A Healthy You, A Healthy Farm” initiative.
“There’s really no reason that somebody ought to struggle and feel like they’re on their own or have to do it by theirself,” said Pate. ”We all need help. We all need each other.”