Behavioral Wellness & Rural Well-Being
Spring greetings from the Colorado Farm and Food Alliance! We wanted to update you on our efforts regarding farmer behavioral and mental health. In late February, in collaboration with The Learning Council and the Valley Organic Growers Association, we hosted a screening of a short film entitled Legacy.
This film documents the beautiful and sometimes painful stories of a deep love for agriculture in the State of Colorado. Colorado Farm Bureau worked with experts statewide to create this glimpse into the lives and struggles of producers to help destigmatize mental health in rural communities and promote the work of the Colorado Agricultural Addiction & Mental Health Program (CAAMHP) and others with the same goals.
Legacy Film Screening at the Hearth In Paonia, CO, 2025.
Following the screening, we had a meaningful discussion with some members of the film, regional representatives from AgrAbility, and many community members about some next steps for cultivating more literacy and support around this issue.
The level of turnout was heartwarming, and we feel deeply encouraged to continue this work. If you would like to organize a community screening of your own, please reach out to Sarsa Buck, our Americorps service team member at sarsa@colofarmfood.org to help spread awareness on this growing crisis.
CO Farm & Food Alliance and our partners, Valley Organic Growers Association and The Learning Council are committed to providing support for this important topic, but it's the community that makes it work. We are encouraging people to reach out to us if they want to get involved in this community effort.
In the meantime, if you or someone you know needs resources right now, to learn more, or to find the information you need please visit http://www.agrability.org.
Colorado has a crisis line that can always be reached at 988 if you or someone you love is in immediate need. Let's support each other in cultivating the full spectrum of what rural resilience can be.
Below are Mental Health Resources
