Marshfield Clinic Research Institute - #FarmNeighborsCare Media Kit

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 1, 2021

CONTACT: Melissa Ploeckelman
Ploeckelman.melissa@marshfieldresearch.org

#FarmNeighborsCare during national Mental Health Awareness Month

May is national Mental Health Awareness Month and [insert your org name here] has joined with a coalition of other agricultural organizations to support rural residents in looking after their farm neighbors who might be struggling with increased stress.

Through its #FarmNeighborsCare campaign, this coalition will be hosting webinars, promoting resources on social media, and running a contest called “Heroes of Hope” to highlight rural heroes who have instilled hope in farmers and farm-related businesses with acts large and small.

[You may use the following paragraph verbatim if want, you may use the quote and insert your own spokesperson’s name, or you can feel free to provide an entirely different quote.] “Mental health is a serious topic in rural Wisconsin,” said Wendy Kannel, senior director of Member Relations at Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation. “Farm Bureau is committed to giving farmers the resources and opportunities they need to reach out if they are struggling, or to help family and friends in need of mental health support.”

Did you know?

Studies over the past few decades have consistently found farmers and farmworkers at a higher risk of death by suicide compared to other occupational groups.

91 percent of rural adults say mental health is important to them and their family.

31 percent of rural adults have personally sought help for a mental health condition, and 24 percent have a family member who has sought care for a mental health condition.

Mental Health Webinars are scheduled for May 12, 19, 26 from noon to 1. To participate in the social media campaign and register for the webinars, visit our #FarmNeighborsCare webpage https://wfbf.com/farm-neighbors-care-campaign/.

To nominate a Hero of Hope, visit www https://wfbf.com/farm-neighbors-care-campaign/heroes-of-hope/. Who’s a hero? Somebody who helped another person through a tough time, perhaps assisting with harvest, delivering meals and generally “being there” to listen. Nominations will be accepted May 1 through May 21. One nominee will be recognized as the grand prize winner, and four nominees will be named runners-up, with prize packages provided by local sponsors. If your organization would like to sponsor or provide a prize, please contact Lynn Siekmann at lsiekmann@wfbf.com.

The #FarmNeighborsCare coalition includes producer groups, Extension, health care providers and other organizations. Farm Neighbors Care was initiated by the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation and has become a collaborative effort between many agricultural organizations in the state. Partnering groups include but are not limited to: AgrAbility of Wisconsin, Dairy Business Association, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative, Farmer Angel Network, Insight FS, National Farm Medicine Center, Professional Dairy Producers, Rural Mutual Insurance Company, Southwestern Wisconsin Community Action Program, Inc., Wisconsin Cattlemen’s Association, Wisconsin Christmas Tree Producers Association, Wisconsin Corn Growers Association, Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation, Wisconsin Farm Center, Wisconsin Farmers Union, Wisconsin Pork Association, Wisconsin Potato and Vegetable Growers Association, Wisconsin Soybean Marketing Board and the Wisconsin State Cranberry Growers Association.

When loved ones, neighbors or others you care about are experiencing mental health challenges, they may not even realize it. Visit [insert your preferred mental health resources here] for tips on how to identify someone who might be at risk.

[You may also consider sharing any of these resources]