THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR CONSISTENTLY LISTS AGRICULTURE/FARM WORK AS ONE OF THE TOP 10 MOST DANGEROUS JOBS. IN ADDITION, FARMER SUICIDES ARE REPORTED TO BE 10 TIMES HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE. HOWEVER, WE DO NOT NEED MORE REGULATIONS TO GOVERN WHAT HAPPENS ON OUR FARMS AND IN OUR FIELDS. IN MISSISSIPPI, WE RECOGNIZE THE NEED TO PROMOTE AGRICULTURE SAFETY AND MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS WITHIN OUR AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY.THE MISSISSIPPI AGRICULTURE MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE PROJECT WILL STRENGTHEN PROGRAMS THAT PROVIDE FARM STRESS AND MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION, AWARENESS, AND TRAINING, AND INCREASE SPECIALIZED SERVICES FOR MISSISSIPPI FARM FAMILIES AND OTHERS IN AGRICULTURE-RELATED OCCUPATIONS.OUR FIRST STEP IS TO ASSIMILATE CURRENT DATA ON AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY/RELATED OCCUPATIONS INJURIES AND DEATHS IN MISSISSIPPI. WE HAVE ACCESS TO NATIONAL DATA, BUT STATE-WIDE DATA HAS NOT BEEN ANALYZED. IN ORDER TO HELPIDENTIFY THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHODS OF CREATING AWARENESS, DEVELOPING HEALTHCARE PROVIDER TRAINING, AND PROMOTING MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE/SERVICES TO THE MOST RURAL AREAS OF OUR STATE, THIS LOCAL DATA IS CRITICAL IN COMMUNICATING THE NEED FOR FARM STRESS ASSISTNACE AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN THE FARMING COMMUNITY. WE WILL PARTNER WITH VARIOUS AGENCIES UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MISSISSIPPI STATE UNIVERSITY EXTENSION SERVICE (MSU-ES) TO COLLECT AND FORMULATE DATA TO BE USED IN EDUCATION AND PUBLIC RELATIONS ACTIVITIES PROVIDED THROUGH THIS PROJECT.FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT IN AGRICULTURE PRODUCTION IS A LEADING FARM STRESSOR, AND THIS TOPICWILL BE ADDRESSED EARLY IN THIS PROJECT. IN ORDER TO EXPAND EXISTING CONTENT IN FARMER EDUCATION PROGRAMS PROVIDED BY THE MSU EXTENSION SERVICE, VIRTUAL TRAINING MATERIALS AND VIDEOSON FARM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT TOPICS WILL BE DEVELOPED. THESE VIDEOS WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE THROUGH COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICES AND ON MSU EXTENSION SERVICE'S ONLINE TRAINING PLATFORM.MISSISSIPPI IS A VERY RURAL STATE, AND WE REALIZE THAT MOST FARMERS AND FARM FAMILIES HAVE LIMITED OPTIONS IN MENTAL HEALTH CARE. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, WE WANT TO EQUIP RURAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS WITH THE TOOLS THEY NEED TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THE CULTURAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL RISKS PRESENTED TO FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILIES. THROUGH A PARTNERSHIP WITH MSU-ES AND UNIVERSITY OF MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL CENTER'S PROJECT ECHO (EXTENSION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTHCARE OUTCOMES), RURAL CULTURAL COMPETENCY/FARMER EDUCATION SPECIALTY TRAINING FOR PHYSICIANS, NURSE PRACTITIONERS AND PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS WILL OCCUR. THIS TRAINING WILL EXPAND FARM STRESS ASSISTANCE AND SUPPORT TO MEDICAL CLINICS THROUGHOUT THE STATE. THE ECHO PROGRAM IS ALREADY IN PLACE AND HAS PROVED AN EFFECTIVE TOOL IN CONTINUING EDUCATION OPPORTUNTIES FOR MISSISSIPPI HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS, AND ADDING A COURSE TO LEARN AND IDENTIFY FARM STRESSORS AND AGRICULTURE SAFETY ISSUES, INJURIES AND DEATHS WILL EXPAND THE SERVICES AVAILABLE TO FARMERS AND THEIR FAMILES IN RURAL REGIONS IN THE STATE.FINALLY, THIS PROJECT WILL EXPAND AN AGRICULTURAL MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS CAMPAIGN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE MISSISSIPPI FARM BUREAU FEDERATION AND THE FARM FAMILIES OF MISSISSIPPI TO PRODUCE AND PROMOTE COMMERCIALS FOR STATEWIDE TV MARKETS. THESE ADVERTISEMENTSWILL HELP TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS IN THE AGRICULTURE COMMUNITY, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ONWARNING SIGNS OF MENTAL STRESSORS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION REGARDING WHERE HELP CAN BE OBTAINED. PLANS ARE IN PLACE TO AIR APPROXIMATELY 1800 COMMERCIALS OVER A THREE MONTH PERIOD IN ALL SIX OF THE MAJOR TV MARKETS IN MISSISSIPPI.