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The following is from Georgia Farm Bureau.
During a press conference held at the Georgia National Fair on Oct. 2, CareSource, a nonprofit, managed care organization that offers comprehensive health insurance plans, announced it is making a $100,000 investment to help the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture (GFA) expand farmer mental health programs statewide.
CareSource’s investment will fund programs offered through the GFA, Georgia Farm Bureau networks and the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance (GAWA) to deliver peer support, youth-focused wellness pilot programs, and community leader training designed to meet the unique mental health challenges farmers face.
“Georgia farmers feed our families and fuel the state’s economy, yet their own health and well-being are too often overlooked,” said Jason Anavitarte, senior director of strategic community partnerships and account management, CareSource Georgia. “Through this investment, CareSource aims to ensure every farmer has access to the care and resources they need to thrive.”
Georgia farmers face some of the highest levels of stress and isolation in the nation. A statewide survey available at https://gfb.ag/gfafarmermentalhealthstudy conducted in 2022 by the GFA, the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center and Mercer University School of Medicine found that 42% of farmers reported suicidal thoughts in the prior year, while more than 60% of first-generation farmers said they had considered suicide. Nearly 60% of farmers reported lacking access to basic medical care, and most said they could not access a psychologist either in-person or virtually.
Following the survey findings, the GFA led a coordinated effort to build long-term support systems for farmer mental health.
“Farm families face enormous pressures, from financial stress to weather, and too often that burden takes a toll on their mental health,” said GFA Board of Directors Chairman & Georgia Farm Bureau President Tom McCall. “Thanks to CareSource’s commitment, we can continue to build a strong, trusted network to ensure no farmer has to face these challenges alone.”
To read the full announcement, click here.
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