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Harvesting Hope: A Mental Health Initiative for Farmers
October 17 @ 9:30 am - 11:30 am
A conversation about farm stress and support
Virginia State University Cooperative Extension will present Harvesting Hope: A Mental Health Initiative for Farmers Oct. 17, 2026, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Eastern. The program takes place online through Microsoft Teams. It focuses on awareness of farm stress and mental health concerns, with attention to communication and support in rural communities. Farmers and others interested in farm well-being can use the session to learn about resources and consider how they talk about stress with the people around them.
Understand the announced focus
The event description includes recognizing signs of stress and early mental health concerns, responding to concerns, managing stress and strengthening communication. Peer support and the stigma surrounding mental health in rural settings also appear in the announced material. Organizers will discuss professional and community resources. Before joining, consider the kinds of information you would like to leave with: a clearer understanding of available support, better questions to ask or a way to continue the conversation in your community. These are preparation ideas, not a request to share personal experiences publicly. Participants can decide how much they want to contribute and ask the organizer about the meeting format beforehand. Keeping a list of resource names and contact details may be useful for follow-up after the program.
Plan for online participation
Contact Yowei Peralta at 804-892-0282 or yperalta@vsu.edu for registration and access questions. The public listing does not state a fee, so ask the organizer if you need that information before signing up. Review the event page and joining instructions, then test Microsoft Teams, your audio and your internet connection before the morning session. Choose a place where you can listen comfortably and allow time to connect before 9:30 a.m. If you need accessibility support or want to understand how participant questions will be handled, contact the organizer in advance. After the session, keep the resources in a place where you can find them and share the official event page with others interested in future Extension programming. Check that page for any changes to the schedule or participation instructions.
