Sen. Jon Ossoff wants to see the Farmers First Act passed
A Senator is pushing for the passage of a bipartisan piece of legislation designed to provide additional mental health support to the ag community.
Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff wants to see the Farmers First Act passed sooner than later.
The bill, originally introduced by Sen. Tammy Baldwin in 2023, authorizes additional funding for the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network – from $10 million per year to $15 million per year for fiscal years through 2028.
This network establishes connections between those in agriculture and stress assistance programs.
The bill also expands program funding eligibility to support crisis lines.
Many farmers, like those in Georgia, continue to rebound after natural disasters and other challenges.
That’s why more support is necessary, Ossoff said.
“Georgia farmers face immense pressures, from the demands of their work to the devastating impacts of natural disasters,” he said in a statement. “I’m working to bring Republicans and Democrats together to help our farmers get the support they need to recover, rebuild, and thrive.”
Overall, farmers are at a higher risk of a mental health crisis compared to the general population.
A National Rural Health Association study, for example, identified farmers as 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide.
Seeking support is a step in the journey to recovery.
“Just normalizing it and knowing that seeking help doesn’t mean you’re weak,” Rachel Dilhoff, a member of the farm stress team at Purdue University, told WCPO.
The team at Purdue helps provide tools, resources, and programs to help farmers manage the day-to-day stresses of operating an ag business.
Farmers who may need immediate mental health support can dial 9-8-8.
The American Farm Bureau has a list of mental health supports.
Farms.com created its own list as well.