Course designed to prevent farmer suicides and depression

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – A Farmer’s job is never easy, but with factors like the pandemic and recent tornado, our farming community is susceptible to higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide. This is according to The Kentucky Department of Agriculture.

To fight this, Western Kentucky University has developed a free course for healthcare professionals designed to prevent farmer suicides. 

This one hour course will raise awareness about the stressors specific to Kentucky’s nearly 76 thousand farm families. 

Healthcare professionals will learn how to identify early signs of mental stress that come with the pressure of machine accidents, chemical exposure, livestock, severe weather and more. 

Along with this class, The Kentucky Department of Agriculture now has 1 million dollars in funding for a statewide study and future app for farmers. This app, active next year, will be a way for farmers to check in with each other and stay connected.