The Harvesting Healthy Minds program was held Wednesday at the Highland County Fairgrounds. A fellowship breakfast and short program was held on Health and Wellness in Agriculture. Special guests Ty Higgins and Adrienne DeSutter were in attendance to lead the conversation.
Attendees received a free T-shirt as well as a bag with information on how to reach out for help with issues of mental health.
Higgins, director of Ohio Farm Bureau and radio broadcaster, emceed the event. The guest speaker was Adrienne DeSutter, a licensed LPC and Illinois farmer. She addressed the mental health issues that are in the farming community nationwide and the stigma that surrounds asking for help.
Also part of the panel discussion was local resident Nathan Brown from the Ohio Farm Bureau. He addressed various issues he has personally experienced among farmers in Ohio and surrounding states.
In her remarks DeSutter said, “Farmers are not just physically strong, but need to be mentally strong as well. It is easy to pick up a piece of equipment, but the hard part is to pick up the phone.”
The breakfast was catered and served by the McClain FFA Chapter. Other agencies involved included the Highland County Farm Bureau, Highland County Community Action, Highland County Suicide Coalition, ADAMH Board, Scioto Paint Valley Mental Health, FRS, and the Hope House Christian Counseling Center.
Submitted by John T. Lombardo.
