Minnesota Pork Organizations Pledge $300,000 for Rural Mental Health 2023
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Center for Rural Behavioral Health at Minnesota State University, Mankato will receive a donation of $300,000 over the course of three years from the Minnesota Pork Board and the Minnesota Pork Producers Association (collectively known as Minnesota Pork).
This donation was announced on Wednesday by the President of the university, Edward Inch. It will be used to establish the operational structure of the center and advance its growth.
Because of this relationship, the center will be able to further its objective, which is to provide access to mental health treatment in rural and outstate areas of Minnesota.
“We are grateful to Minnesota Pork for its partnership in supporting mental health resources through the Center for Rural Behavioral Health,” stated Inch in a release.
“The agricultural community plays an important role in our region, and Minnesota State Mankato is proud to partner with Minnesota Pork to offer services that help strengthen our farm families,” Minnesota Pork said in a statement.
Minnesota Pork Groups Commit $300,000 to Improve Rural Mental Health
According to Thad Shunkwiler, founding director of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Center for Rural Behavioral Health at Minnesota State University, Mankato, this partnership will allow the center to study and disseminate evidence-based mental health resources within the agriculture industry. The center is located at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
“The agricultural community continues to experience significant challenges related to mental health,” Shunkwiler stated in a release about the topic. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the suicide incidence among those working in agriculture is far higher than that of people working in any other occupation.
Access to mental health treatments in rural communities has never been more challenging, which makes the problem much worse.
The Chief Executive Officer of Minnesota Pork, Jill Resler, stated that the relationship is crucial to assist address mental health concerns that are prevalent in the agricultural industry.
“Farming is not just a job; it’s a calling, a passion, and a way to leave a lasting legacy.” “The load can feel overwhelming at times,” Resler stated in a statement that was distributed publicly.
“It is our hope that through this partnership with the Center for Rural Behavioral Health, we will be able to increase the number of resources that are easily accessible, relevant, and vital in order to support wellness for all members of our rural communities.”
