This two-hour, in-person discussion and training is designed for farmers and those who support them. The training is part of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR)’s MassGrownWellness (MGW) program.

Attendees will receive mental health resources developed by MDAR. The training will review critical skills needed to effectively engage farmers in the field. MDAR will explore how stressors impact farmers’ mental health and well-being, learn to recognize when a farmer or farm family are under stress, and understand how to start conversations about emotional well-being. MDAR also will discuss best practices for self-care, how to initiate strategies to connect people to support, and model de-escalation and active listening skills as effective tools for people who are not mental health professionals.