Wisconsin Farmers Can Receive Help with Farmer Wellness Hotline
Thursday, July 2nd, 2020 -- 9:08 AM
(Wisconsin Ag Connection) -Wisconsin farmers facing distress because of finances or other mental anxiety can access additional free and confidential counseling resources from the Farm Center, thanks to a new pilot program.Starting this week, the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture will offering a 24/7 Farmer Wellness Hotline to speak with licensed mental health professionals. The hotline can be reached at 888-901-2558. Callers can schedule ongoing telehealth counseling sessions, with referrals made through the 24/7 hotline or through the Wisconsin Farm Center at 800-942-2474. Persons who prefer an in-person session can request to meet with a local provider through the Farm Center's longstanding Counseling Voucher Program.
"The 24/7 Farmer Counseling Hotline is available around the clock as a welcoming ear for farmers who need to talk through a challenging time in their life," said Farm Center Director Jayne Krull. "We hope that this initial pilot program will help us better understand whether a 24/7 hotline and tele-counseling are viable tools for our farmers with mental health needs." The pilot program was funded by the 2019-2021 biennial state budget.
Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.