NY FARMNET HAS BEEN ASSISTING FARMERS FOR 35 YEARS BY OFFERING FREE, CONFIDENTIAL, AND IMPARTIAL CONSULTING SERVICES. PROGRAM CONSULTANTS WORK IN TEAMS OF TWO: FINANCIAL CONSULTANTS FOCUS ON BUSINESS/SUCCESSION PLANNING, FINANCIAL ANALYSIS, DIVERSIFICATION, ETC. AND FAMILY CONSULTANTS PROVIDE PROFESSIONAL AGRICULTURAL BEHAVIORAL HEALTH COUNSELING. THEIR WORK IS CENTERED AROUND COMMUNICATION, STRESS MANAGEMENT, REFERRALS TO COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND MANAGING ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.THIS PROJECT AIMS TO RAISE AWARENESS IN THE AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY OF NEW YORK AROUND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH SERVICES THAT ARE AVAILABLE, AND TO EXPAND UPON THESE SERVICES. NY FARMNET WILL DEVELOP A GROUP OF SKILLED TRAINERS IN MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID (MHFA) AND HOLD FREE OF CHARGE WORKSHOPS IN MHFA AND SAFETALK (SUICIDE PREVENTION) FOR FARMERS AND AGRIBUSINESS PROFESSIONALS ACROSS THE STATE.A MARKETING CAMPAIGN WILL HELP LESSEN THE STIGMA ASSOCIATED WITH ASKING FOR HELP WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. FARMERS WILL BE DIRECTED TO NY FARMNET AND THE NY AGRICULTURAL MEDIATION PROGRAM (NYSAMP), AS WELL AS ADDITIONAL ORGANIZATIONS, AS ACCESSIBLE RESOURCES SPECIFICALLY TAILORED TO THE LIFESTYLES AND COMMUNITIES THAT FARMERS HOLD.NYSAMP, AS A SUBRECIPIENT TO NY FARMNET, WILL OFFER DIRECT SERVICES FOR LABOR ISSUES TO THE FARM COMMUNITY. THEY WILL PROVIDE SPECIALIZED TRAINING TO A TEAM OF HIGHLY SKILLED MEDIATORS, AND EXPAND SERVICES TO ADDRESS LABOR TOPICS BETWEEN OR AMONGST EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS SUCH AS CONFLICT MANAGEMENT, CULTIVATING RELATIONSHIPS, AND COMMUNICATION.BOTH NY FARMNET AND NYSAMP PLANS OF WORK ARE SUPPORTIVE OF SERVICES ALREADY BEING OFFERED, AND BUILD A PLATFORM FROM WHICH THE PROGRAMS WILL CONTINUE TO OPERATE FOR MANY YEARS INTO THE FUTURE.