Farmers, ranchers, fishermen, and loggers need 24/7 crisis support from people who understand their work and way of life.
AgriSafe needs to raise $2.5M to expand the AgriStress Helpline from 11 states to all 50.
FAQ
Who is AgriSafe?
We are a national 501©3 non-profit that educates healthcare professionals and agricultural communities about important health and safety information for those working in the agriculture, fishing, forestry, and logging industries. We bring together national experts to develop educational materials and programming that can be delivered both digitally and in-person. Our mission is to protect the people who feed the world – and in addition to education, we are cultivating a network of trained agricultural health and safety professionals that understand and support Total Farmer Health®. For more information, visit our about page.
What is the AgriStress Helpline?
The AgriStress Helpline is a 24/7/365 suicide crisis and resource line for people working in the agriculture, fishing, and logging industries. It is currently available in 11 states: AZ, CO, CT, MO, MT, OR, PA, TX, VA, WA, and WY; but we want to make it national. It has been around since February 2022, and to date has received over 1,800 calls and texts. For more information, visit AgriSafe’s webpage for the AgriStress Helpline.
Why are you doing a crowdfunding campaign for a public resource?
The suicide crisis in the United States needs a community-based response. By helping to make the helpline national, you can save the life of a farmer, rancher, fisherman, or logger. Donate now.
Why does there need to be an agriculture-specific suicide crisis line, when 988 exists?
Both the AgriStress Helpline and 988 offer the same quality of suicide crisis services – but our crisis specialists have extra training to know the culture, values, stressors, and lived experiences of agriculture, fishing, and logging workers. In addition, crisis specialists have access to a state specific curated database of agricultural and health resources.
Not only do the agriculture, fishing, forestry, and logging industries have some of the highest rates of fatalities and injuries across all age groups, but also some of the highest rates of death by suicide. Work and life in agricultural communities bring about unique stressors and situations, which increase barriers to accessing care. This is why they need professionals who understand their particular issues.
Crisis specialists answering the AgriStress Helpline are accredited by the American Association of Suicidology (AAS) and Inform USA (formerly known as the Alliance of Information and Referral Systems / AIRS). What makes the AgriStress Helpline innovative is that the crisis support specialists are all certified in FarmResponse®, a continuing education course which provides the full range of competencies necessary for serving farmers, ranchers, fishermen, foresters, and loggers. All specialists have over 300 hours of evidence-based training in crisis support and de-escalation. Most importantly, the crisis specialists are also 988 certified.
I want my donation to go towards funding the helpline in a specific state – can I do that?
Yes. After you have selected the amount you are donating and click the “continue” button, you will have a chance to add a comment to your donation. Please mention the state you’d like your donation to go towards, and we will ensure that it is allocated there.
Do AgriSafe and the AgriStress Helpline get my full donation?
Yes, we will receive 100% of your donation, and it will go towards the national AgriStress Helpline. Any additional funds raised will go towards funding future years of the helpline, for promoting the helpline, and/or for AgriSafe’s other mental health work.
I want to send a check, rather than pay online – how do I do that?
If you’d like to send a check or discuss other payment options, you can reach out to AgriSafe Network’s accounting staff via email – accounting@agrisafe.org – or you can address it to “AgriSafe Network” and mail it to our main office located in LA: AgriSafe Network, 136 Terra Bella Blvd, Suite B, Covington, LA 70433.
I want to help fundraise for the AgriStress Helpline; how do I get involved?
You can share the JustGiving page for the AgriStress Helpline, or you can start your own fundraising page to help support the cause. We also welcome you to post pictures, videos, and share the JustGiving page on your socials and with your network. Make sure to tag AgriSafe in your post!
- Instagram: agrisafe_network
- Facebook (Meta): agrisafe.network
- Twitter (X): AgriSafeNetwork
- LinkedIn: agrisafe-network OR AgriSafe Network
- YouTube: agrisafenetwork7046
I have a different question…
If you have a question that is not answered here, feel free to reach out to AgriSafe by emailing info@agrisafe.org!
For media inquiries, please reach out to Laura Siegel, AgriSafe’s Health Communications Officer, at lsigel@agrisafe.org.