Waist up portrait of senior farmer on field, looking at camera.
May 16, 2022 – Spring planting season can be stressful on farmers and now an Illinois program designed to address mental health issues is getting a financial boost.
The Illinois Department of Agriculture and Southern Illinois University teamed up for the Farm Family Resource Initiative (FFRI). The program gives farm families a way to connect to resources to get mental health help. The program was announced at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur in 2021.
“The initiative has a lot of resources and the centerpiece of our initiative is readily a 24/7 anonymous helpline,” said program director Karen Leavitt Stallman.
In addition to the hotline, the program also offers individual, couple or group counseling sessions to farmers or their family members. The initiative was launched in six counties in 2019, but with funds through a USDA grant, the program has expanded to all 102 counties.
During the last legislative session, the General Assembly appropriated an additional $500,000 to ensure the program remains operational in all 102 counties throughout fiscal year 2023.
To highlight the need for mental health assistance in our farming communities, Department of Agriculture Director Jerry Costello, along with members from the SIU School of Medicine, U of I Extension, local legislators and mental health professionals, are traveling around the state to promote FFRI.
“In just a few short years, the FFRI has already helped many in our farming communities,” said Costello. “Providing confidential access to mental health providers while also breaking down stigmas in seeking help is critical for those working in our state’s number one industry.”
To learn more about the program, go to www.siumed.edu/farm.
