September is National Suicide Prevention Month, and that’s especially important in rural areas, where suicide rates are roughly 1.5 times higher than urban areas. A lack of rural mental health care options and a negative stigma against discussing mental health have contributed heavily to this issue. Fortunately, a new project in the Midwest is aiming to make it easier to access mental health care and to talk about mental health struggles. Easton Kuboushek, lead volunteer with Farm Dog, said he has a very personal connection with this cause.
Kuboushek said this project is a collaborative effort that stretches across the ag community.
On top of providing care that is specifically tailored to the mental health needs of farmers, Kuboushek said Farm Dog has an apparel line that will help reduce the stigma associated with talking about mental health problems.
Kuboushek said the name “Farm Dog” is a reference to the special emotional relationship between a farmer and their dog.
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