URBANA, Ill. — Farmers, ranchers, and agricultural workers face unique stressors that can take a serious toll on their mental health, often at higher rates than the general population. To address these challenges, University of Illinois Extension offers a free webinar series, Mental Health First Aid for the Agriculture Community, designed to equip participants with tools to recognize and respond to signs of mental distress.
The training aims to raise awareness of mental health and substance use issues in rural communities, reduce stigma, and promote early intervention. Participants will learn how to identify warning signs, offer support, and connect individuals to local and national resources for ongoing care.
“Agricultural professionals often face intense, isolating pressures that can affect their mental health. These struggles often go unseen and unspoken,” says Stephanie Acevedo, visiting outreach associate. “Mental Health First Aid gives our agricultural community the tools to recognize the signs, start conversations, and connect people to the support they need. The workshop is a practical way to strengthen the agricultural community and ensure that no one faces challenges alone.”
Event Details
Adult Mental Health First Aid for the Agricultural Community
Learn to identify and respond to mental health and substance use challenges in the ag community.
Available dates:
- Oct. 13 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | Online
- Nov. 5–6 | 9 a.m. to noon | Online
- Nov. 12 | 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. | In person at The Maschhoffs, 7475 IL-127, Carlyle, IL 62231.
Youth Mental Health First Aid for the Agricultural Community
Explore ways to recognize and respond to youth mental health needs in agriculture.
Date: Oct. 2–3 | 1 to 4 p.m. | Online
Register for free at go.illinois.edu/MHFARegistration.
Note: Learners will complete a 2-hour, self-paced online course prior to instructor-led training.
For more information or if you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in this program, contact Stephanie Acevedo at sacevedo@illinois.edu. Early requests are strongly encouraged to allow sufficient time to meet access needs.
SOURCE: Stephanie Acevedo, visiting outreach associate, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, University of Illinois.
WRITER: Herbert Chavez, media communications coordinator, Illinois Extension.
University of Illinois Extension develops educational programs, extends knowledge, and builds partnerships to support people, communities, and their environments as part of the state's land-grant institution. Extension serves as the leading public outreach effort for University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences in all 102 Illinois counties through a network of 27 multi-county units and over 700 staff statewide. Extension’s mission is responsive to eight strategic priorities — community, economy, environment, food and agriculture, health, partnerships, technology and discovery, and workforce excellence — that are served through six program areas — 4-H youth development, agriculture and agribusiness, community and economic development, family and consumer science, integrated health disparities, and natural resources, environment, and energy.