Vern convenes roundtable on farmer mental health

Vern and Cindy Thompson hosted a roundtable on farmer mental health and suicide prevention Tuesday, July 7, at Living Waters Lutheran Church in Fargo. Dozens of lawmakers, faith leaders, and concerned neighbors turned out for what amounts to Vern's reality check on rural mental health: the crisis is real, and North Dakota isn't talking about it enough.

Ahead of the event, Vern sat down for an interview on why he and Cindy are pushing to get farmers talking about mental health. Watch the interview.

"Farmers are proud people. Most won't pick up the phone and call a hotline on their own — so we have to go to them and start the conversation ourselves."

The group is already looking at legislation to raise mental health awareness for farmers, and chip away at the stigma that keeps rural communities silent.

Read the full coverage from InForum here.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

Vern Thompson speaking during the Farmer Mental Health Roundtable.