Legislature looks at mental health programs for farmers & ranchers

By Marianne Goodland

Legislative reporter

The State Senate this week took on the issue of behavioral health in rural Colorado, with two measures designed to help farmers and ranchers with mental health programs and providers.

Senator Perry Will, R-New Castle, called the need for behavioral health a pervasive issue in the agricultural industry and in rural communities.

That need is compounded by a lack of adequate behavioral health providers and programs, Will said.

Farmers and ranchers have a suicide rate three and a half times that seen in the general population, Will said, citing the Nationa...