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Free Suicide Prevention Course Available for Rural Veterinarians, Farm Workers [1]
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Date: 2024-10-28
A new online course, “Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Rural America” aims to help participating veterinarians, agribusiness professionals and veterinary students learn about mental health issues in rural communities and how to help.
The program from Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and NY FarmNet, in partnership with Rural Minds, provides practical tips to help with mental health challenges, including recognizing and responding to warning signs, as well as providing key information on resources such as crisis hotline numbers and local supports.
People interested in taking the course can access it at eCornell.
“As a dairy farmer, I know firsthand that veterinarians are an integral part of all rural communities. And they may be among the first to see warning signs that a client is experiencing a mental health challenge but may not recognize those same signs in themselves,” said Jeff Winton, a Cornell alum and founder and chairman of Rural Minds, in a press release. Rural Minds is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting mental health in rural America.
Research has shown that rural communities have disproportionately higher rates of suicide in their population compared to urban areas. Farmers are twice as likely than those in other occupations to die by suicide, according to Rural Minds, and veterinarians also have face higher risks of suicide when compared to the general population.
Enrollment in the course was approaching 150 and increasing daily, as of mid-October, said Lorin D. Warnick, Austin O. Hooey Dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University.
“This course is aimed at preparing veterinarians and others working in rural communities with the knowledge and resources necessary to recognize and help people who are experiencing mental health challenges or that may be at risk for suicide,” Warnick said in an email to the Daily Yonder. “We also hope this will help those who take the course care for their personal well-being.”
Rural community members face barriers to mental healthcare. Data collected up to 2017 showed rural areas having 20% fewer primary care providers than urban areas, with 65% of rural counties lacking a psychiatrist, according to Rural Minds. Many rural community members have expensive or nonexistent internet service and lack adequate health insurance coverage, the group wrote.
“Veterinarians are trusted professionals in rural communities and may be in a position to guide others to resources and support,” Warnick said.
Rural Minds also cites the unreliable and expensive internet service for online video or telehealth appointments as a contributing factor for the mental health and suicide disparity.
“Professionals working in rural-agricultural regions face immense challenges related to stress and mental health,” said Adam Howell, NY FarmNet’s outreach director, in the press release. “NY FarmNet is proud to see this new educational initiative come to fruition as we work together to alleviate the mental health crisis afflicting rural communities across America.”
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[1] Url:
https://dailyyonder.com/free-suicide-prevention-course-available-for-rural-veterinarians-farm-workers/2024/10/28/
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