Sponsors (16)
The resolution raises visibility of mental-health and suicide risks among agricultural workers and may mobilize attention and partners, but without funding or mandates it risks increasing concern without materially improving access to services.
Farmers and farmworkers receive increased national visibility for mental-health and suicide risk, which can reduce stigma and encourage affected individuals to seek help.
Rural communities, employers, nonprofits, and funders are more likely to notice the problem — the national designation can help mobilize nonprofits, funders, employers, and local leaders to target outreach and mental-health services to agricultural workers.
Farmers, farmworkers, and rural communities may face increased concern without improved services because the resolution creates awareness but provides no funding or requirements, so access to care may not increase despite highlighting high suicide rates.
Based on analysis of 2 sections of legislative text.
Designates May as National Mental Health Awareness Month and highlights elevated suicide rates among farmers and farmworkers to raise awareness and reduce stigma.
Introduced March 26, 2025 by Debra Fischer · Last progress May 19, 2025
Designates May as National Mental Health Awareness Month and calls attention to mental health challenges in U.S. agriculture, citing statistics on the number of farmers and farmworkers and elevated suicide rates among those groups. The measure frames stigma and lack of awareness as continuing problems and urges greater awareness of mental and behavioral health for agricultural communities. This resolution is a non‑binding statement of findings and purposes. It does not create new programs, require funding, or change existing law; it primarily makes public observations and a designation intended to promote awareness.