The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) has funds available to support safeTALK: Preventing Suicide in Agricultural Communities. This training is for farmers, farm family members, and community members who work with or support them (e.g. federal/state/county agencies, lenders, accountants, veterinarians, ag-oriented businesses like feed and implement dealers, agronomists, clergy, health and mental health providers, etc.).

The 4-hour, interactive workshop teaches participants how to recognize someone having thoughts of suicide, how to engage them, and how to make sure they get help. It is a very popular program; 85% of participants at sessions across Minnesota in 2019 and 2020 said they would definitely recommend the training to colleagues or co-workers.

The MDA will provide a partial sponsorship of $500 per qualifying event to groups and organizations that want to offer this training in Minnesota. Funds are available on a first come-first served basis. We strongly encourage you to charge a nominal participant registration fee in addition to securing other funding if needed.

Sessions can accommodate a maximum of 30 participants. To find a trainer who is qualified to teach this agricultural adaptation of safeTALK, please contact glen.bloomstrom@livingworks.net

Please submit your sponsorship request to meg.moynihan@state.mn.us. Include the following information:

• Name and address of organization coordinating the training
• Phone and email of contact person
• Proposed training location
• Proposed date of training
• Name of safeTALK trainer
• Who is your target audience?
• How will you promote the training?
• How will you ensure that farmers and people who work with farmers receive priority for registration?
• What are your other sources of funding for this training?