By Blake Jackson
The Farm Summit, focusing on suicide prevention among farmers, will be held on Monday, August 19, 2024, from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm at Western Wisconsin Health’s Main Campus, located at 1100 Bergslien St., Baldwin, Wisconsin.
For those unable to attend in person, a virtual option will be available, broadcasting live from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm.
Farming, with its inherent stress and isolation, poses significant mental health challenges. This summit aims to bring together healthcare professionals, mental health experts, and agricultural service providers to address these issues and foster a supportive network.
The program features Dr. Sara Kohlbeck from the Medical College of Wisconsin, a researcher specializing in suicide prevention.
Dr. Kohlbeck emphasizes that farmers face unique stressors contributing to higher suicide rates compared to other occupations. Understanding these stressors is crucial for providing effective support to farmers.
Dr. Kohlbeck will speak at the summit and lead a panel discussion with farmers sharing their personal experiences with farm-related stress and mental health challenges.
The panel will include Brittany Olson, Jaci Gerdes, and Jennifer Webster, who will offer insights into the realities of farming and its impact on mental health.
The event's agenda includes check-in at 11:00 am, followed by a networking lunch at 11:15 am. Dr. Kohlbeck’s presentation will start at 12:00 pm, with the farmer panel discussion at 12:20 pm. Additional resources and a wrap-up will conclude the event at 1:15 pm.
The summit is free but requires registration, with in-person registration closing on August 12 due to limited space. For more information or to register, contact joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu or call (608) 263-3485.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-stockseller_ukr
Categories: Wisconsin, Education, General