The CHS Foundation continues to invest in farmer mental health through programs such as Farm State of Mind, a peer-to-peer online resource, and a nurse scholar program focused on agriculture-specific health issues. CHS Foundation Program Manager Tera Stoddard said the organization is also promoting QPR training, Question, Persuade, Refer, which equips trusted farm advisors to recognize and respond to mental health crises. “That agronomist or ag nutritionist may be more than just a consultant on the farm,” said Stoddard. “That person may be the person a farmer is talking to when they are in stressful situations or they are in crisis so that helps bridge the gap so that that person who has the the tools that they need to help a person in crisis respond and so we have had some really great success.” ” The CHS Foundation recently trained 85 member co-op employees across ten states. Stoddard said the effort is important because farmer suicide rates remain higher than those of the general population. She encourages anyone in crisis to seek help through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which is available 24 hours a day by phone, text, or online.
