Special to Tiger Media Network
High Plains Mental Health Center will host a special event, “Hope in the Heartland,” to highlight mental health awareness, farm stress, public policy and challenges facing the agribusiness industry. The event is sponsored by the Robert E. and Patricia A. Schmidt Family Foundation, and will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 8, in the Fort Hays State University Memorial Union Ballroom.
There is no cost to attend and all are welcome. However, to reserve a meal for the lunch session, guests must RSVP to kaley.conner@hpmhc.com by Jan. 24.
Guest speakers will include Chuck Ingoglia, CEO of the National Council for Behavioral Health, based in Washington, DC. Chuck will provide an update on public policy and discuss the importance of reducing the stigma around mental illness. Kimberly Nelson, regional administrator with the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, will discuss farm and rural behavioral health policy considerations. Mykel Taylor, an associate professor of agricultural economics at Kansas State University, will provide an overview of the current agriculture economy in rural Kansas. There also will be panel discussions featuring Northwest Kansas legislators, agriculture experts, local farm families, and more.
The event is intended to de-stigmatize mental illness and increase public awareness about warning signs, stress management and increased challenges facing many in rural Kansas, said Walt Hill, executive director of High Plains. The suicide rate in Kansas has increased 45 percent in the last 17 years, with rural areas particularly affected. The need for mental health services has also increased, with many reporting high levels of stress or anxiety.
“It’s long been understood that farming is an exceptionally stressful occupation, due to so many factors beyond the farmer’s control: Climate, economy, business costs,” Hill said. “It’s important to understand the farmer is the business’ most valuable resource, and to reduce stigma that can be a barrier to seeking health care or just talking to someone, especially in a rural setting.”
High Plains Mental Health Center is a licensed community mental health center dedicated to the aggressive pursuit of providing a comprehensive mental health program to the residents of Northwest Kansas. Embodied in this pursuit are fundamental principles of establishing quality services as close to home as possible, at an affordable fee, and delivered in the least disruptive manner available. Such services will offer a continuum of care so that treatment can be individualized, and our staff can respond quickly and compassionately to those reaching out to us. We’re Here for You.