OLYMPIA, Wash. – The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) has received a $500,000 grant to work in partnership with the Washington State DOH and WSU on a project addressing stress and suicide prevention in the agriculture community.
“This past year has brought on extreme difficulties for the agriculture community” WSDA director Derek Sandison said
“We know that stress is high and the suicide rate is on the rise. This grant will allow our agency to do its part to help those who work in agriculture through these difficult times.”
WSDA will use the money to support the Farming Stress and Suicide Prevention Project, a collaborative effort involving WSDA, DOH, and WSU to set up a mental health counseling and financial advising network for the agriculture community.