A new Minnesota campaign is putting a greater focus on mental health and suicide prevention in agriculture. Meg Moynihan, a senior advisor in the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, outlined the impetus for this campaign. “Earlier this year we started having some conversations based on calls from a farmer who had just had a neighbor pass away from suicide, and he said I would l like to ask the Department of Agriculture to get more involved in this issue because we are facing a lot of adversity out here in farm country and we need help.” The MDA worked with commodity and agricultural organizations, the Minnesota Department of Health, and farm suicide prevention experts to develop the campaign. Moynihan said the goal is to make sure farmers across all corners of Minnesota know they are not alone, and help is available.
