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STRESS Act garners key support in House Ag Committee

The Congressman who introduced the Stemming the Tide of Rural Economic Stress and Suicide—or STRESS Act, says the legislation has garnered key support in the House.

Minnesota Republican Tom Emmer tells Brownfield Ag Committee Chairman Mike Conaway wants to include the STRESS Act in the next Farm Bill.

“It might go through some changes through the Committee process, but ultimately we’re going to get it reauthorized.  I’m very confident of that.  And then we’re going to try and do something that no one else has done, which is get some funds actually appropriated into this program.”

Emmer says the STRESS Act builds off the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network created in the 2008 Farm Bill.

“We want to reauthorize this Network which would provide grants to various state efforts, extension services, 501 (c) (3)’s, commodity groups.  It would provide funds to roll out local mental health assistance efforts specific to farmers and ranchers.”

Calling the subject uncomfortable but important to talk about, Emmer says the suicide rate is five times higher in Rural America.

He adds nearly half of all counties in the U.S. have no psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker.