Office received $7 million grant to develop #suicide hotline for agricultural workers
BENJAMIN MICHAELIS | DAILY EVERGREEN FILE
From 2016 to 2019, three suicides occurred among members of Skagit County’s #agricultural industry.
LOREN NEGRON, Evergreen reporter
When Bob Engle witnessed his father experience clinical #depression, Engle knew he did not want to venture on the same road his father walked on.
“It’s just my own recognition to not let #depression ruin my life,” said Engle, a #farmer from Whidbey Island.
This year has been difficult because of the #pandemic, he said. On top of that, he and his family lost their family farm that has been around since the 1800s. He said he experienced a lot of #stress and “a lot of dark days.”
But with the help of the #WSU Skagit County Extension Office’s farm #stress and #farmer #suicideprevention efforts, Engle and other #agricultural workers are receiving the support they need. Those efforts are led by Don McMoran, director of #WSU’s Skagit County Extension Office.
#Farmer #suicideprevention is an issue that has been of interest to McMoran since his sophomore year in college. At the time, a worker on his family’s farm committed #suicide, he said. It was not until 2019, however, that he became more involved in #farmer #suicideprevention efforts.
#JamesDonaldson notes:
Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes.
Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use.
Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space. #http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle
From 2016 to 2019, three suicides occurred in Skagit County’s #agricultural industry, McMoran said. The third #suicide incident affected him personally.
“The third one was a gentleman that I worked with when I worked at the Skagit Conservation District,” he said. “It really hit me hard because I knew him personally.”
McMoran said he and his staff want to address #suicide in the #agricultural industry. Their efforts are conducted under the Western Region #Agricultural #Stress Assistance Program. The ongoing pilot program began in 2019 when the state legislature developed a task force focused on suicides in the #agricultural industry.
“We took on some funding to be the first #agricultural #suicideprevention pilot program in the state of #Washington,” he said.
The program conducts #suicideprevention workshops and distributes educational flyers to engage people in talking about suicide, McMoran said. With a $7.18 million Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network grant, the program will expand its service to 13 states in the west and four U.S. territories.
McMoran said the FRSAN grant came from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Institute of Food and #Agriculture. The program will use the grant money to develop a #suicide hotline for #agricultural workers. Two employees will handle the hotline and take calls concerning farm #stress and #suicideprevention.
“We’re excited about that because we realize that most #farmers aren’t going to call a #nationalsuicidehotline,” he said, “and if they did, they probably aren’t going to have an operator on the other end that understands the plight of the #farmer and everything the #American #farmer is under.”
Engle said the program connects #agricultural workers and their families with people who can understand the challenges they face. Farming is not only a job, he said, but a lifestyle that puts #farmers in many difficult situations.
Talking to somebody who can understand is important, he said. Engle’s father spent years fighting his #depression. After finding a therapist who could relate to his experiences, Engle’s dad was able to fully express himself.
“#Farmers are in a different world. We work by ourselves all day, every day,” he said. “Sun up through sundown and sometimes long hours and even longer — finding someone who can comprehend that and just be a listening ear … is really important.”
#Farmers are independent people who do not like to admit when they are struggling, he said. This makes it challenging for them to receive the help they need.
“Us, as #farmers, you’re getting beat down — we just don’t like to admit it. You were never supposed to show your fears,” Engle said. “That’s what you were always taught growing up.”
Talking about #suicide and other #mentalhealthissues is harder for #men, he said, because #men are raised to not show any sign of weakness. Although this is gradually changing, Engle said this is still an issue that needs to be addressed.
“As a society as a whole, we’ve done a huge injustice that way,” he said. “#Men just have as many problems, but we were taught to not talk about it.”
Not knowing who the program has saved makes the job emotionally difficult, McMoran said. However, seeing #farmers change the way they perceive and approach #mentalhealth makes the job rewarding.
“Just getting over some of those stigmas and being able to talk about the subject has really helped us grow as a community,” McMoran said.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
