North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center: Engaging Programs to Support Producer Wellbeing

The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign mobilized partners in the North Central region to form the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center (NCFRSAC) to create and expand stress management and mental health resources and services to agricultural producers and advocates and stakeholders who support agricultural producers.The NCFRSAC will: 1) Expand farm telephone hotlines and websites, 2) Expand programs that provide professional agricultural behavioral health intervention, and 3) Provide needed training and resources for producers, agriculture-related occupations, and individuals who support producers. NCFRSAC will provide public value by expanding community capacity and healthcare providers' readiness to respond to producers' mental health needs and potentially increase agricultural productivity by reducing presenteeism, absenteeism, and work-related injuries.