Family Education Continuing education for physicians focuses on farmer mental health The online FarmResponse course from AgriSafe teaches physicians about the unique mental health needs and barriers facing farmers. It provides 3.5 hours of continuing education credit. By Lisa Foust Prater Lisa Foust Prater Lisa Foust Prater is the Family & Farmstead Editor for Successful Farming, sharing interesting family features, heartfelt editorial columns, and important health and safety information. Her favorite thing about her job is meeting interesting people, learning their stories, and sharing them with our readers.Lisa started her career with Successful Farming magazine in 1999, working primarily for the web team and writing product reviews for the magazine. She later wrote for the Living the Country Life magazine and website and has written and edited several cookbooks and other books for Successful Farming and Living the Country Life. Successful Farming's Editorial Guidelines Published on March 16, 2023 Close In order to maintain their licenses, physicians must take continuing education courses. Depending on the state, between 12 and 50 hours of ongoing training must be taken each year. By taking the on-demand FarmResponse course, they can earn 3.5 hours by learning about mental healthcare for farmers. In addition to gaining a basic understanding of the business and culture of farming, physicians enrolled in the course learn about the stress factors, financial risks, relationship issues, schedule demands, health hazards, and other challenges inherent in agricultural work. READ MORE: Training for rural nurses helps keep farmers healthy The course also addresses the barriers many farmers face when attempting to access healthcare, including mental healthcare, and examines the special challenges faced by minority groups in agriculture. A chapter on suicide discusses the elevated rate among agricultural populations, identifies risk factors, and instructs how to effectively discuss suicide with farmers. Another chapter includes information on opioid and alcohol addiction. Finally, physicians will learn how to support farmers and connect them with resources that are specifically designed to provide mental healthcare to ag workers. READ MORE: Mental health resources for farmers and ranchers The online, on-demand course allows physicians to participate on their own time, from anywhere. It is free for physicians who live in or are licensed to practice in Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Virginia, or Wyoming. Those from other states may take the course for a fee of $150. Click here to learn more and register for the course. FarmResponse was developed by experts from the AgriStress Response Network, a project of the non-profit AgriSafe Network. It is provided in partnership with the Minnesota Medical Association, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The course is sponsored by the University of Minnesota School of Public Health, an approved provider of recertification credits by the National Board of Public Health Examiners. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit