A group of agriculture and behavioral health organizations have launched the Colorado Agricultural Addiction and Mental Health Program (CAAMHP), aiming to provide support and resources for farmers and ranchers struggling with mental health. The program provides vouchers to offset the cost of accessing licensed behavioral health professionals.
Participants in the program can request vouchers, connecting licensed behavioral health professionals who have taken the time to understand the specific stressors that agricultural communities face. The program is anonymous and focuses primarily on telehealth services, allowing farmers and ranchers to access care during the most stressful seasons when leaving their work may not feel possible.
According to research by the American Farm Bureau Federation, a strong majority of farmers and farmworkers think financial issues (91%), farm or business problems (88%) and fear of losing the farm (87%) impact the mental health of farmers. Often, access to these services is difficult in rural communities because of the cost and availability of health services in isolated communities. CAAMHP will provide farmers and ranchers with free access to licensed providers who understand the unique circumstances of agriculture.
This was reported by Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance on May 26, 2021.
Contact information: Colorado Farm Bureau Insurance, 9177 East Mineral Circle, Centennial, Colorado 80112; 303-749-7500; Website: https://www.coloradofarmbureau.com/
