News release
High Plains Mental Health Center, in cooperation with the federal department of Health and Human Services, will host a farm stress listening tour on July 28. The event will be from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Hilton Garden Inn convention center, 221 W. 43rd.
The event is a stop on the National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health and is open to the public. Officials with the federal government will be present to hear from a panel of local residents who work in the agribusiness industry. Topics of discussion will include farm/agriculture stress and challenges facing rural health care services and accessibility.
The event will center around a panel discussion consisting of regional health care workers, local farmers and agriculture producers, and professionals who work in the agribusiness industry. There also will be a presentation by the Kansas Department of Agriculture and the Kansas Department for Aging and Disability Services to provide current state-level statistics and resources. There will be a time for questions and media availability following the panel discussion.
“We are pleased to bring this event to northwest Kansas and are glad the federal government is paying attention to the issues of farm stress and rural mental health as they consider federal funding and policy to meet increased needs and challenges,” said Walt Hill, executive director of High Plains Mental Health Center. “We want to thank our 10 local panelists for being willing to share their time and their voices to raise awareness of these issues.”
Panelists will include representatives from High Plains Mental Health Center, First Care Clinic, Kansas Farm Bureau, U.S. Department of Agriculture, Fort Hays State University, K-State Research and Extension/Cottonwood District and The Animal Hospital, in addition to several local farmers, producers and agronomists.
The Department of HHS began the National Tour to Strengthen Mental Health in March to address mental health challenges that have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, including substance use, youth mental health and suicide. The stop in Hays will focus on challenges unique to rural areas and agriculture producers. Farming and ranching are known to be stressful occupations due in part to so many factors producers cannot control, such as climate, market prices and high start-up costs.
Attendees will include: Joseph Palm, Regional Director, HHS Intergovernmental and External Affairs; Kimberly Nelson, Regional Administrator of Substance Use and Mental Health Services Administration; Nancy Rios, Regional Administrator of Health Resources and Services Administration; Nickolas Clasen, HHS Intergovernmental & External Affairs; and Christy Davis, Kansas State Director of USDA Rural Development.
High Plains Mental Health Center is a licensed community mental health center and Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic dedicated to the aggressive pursuit of providing a comprehensive behavioral 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!