Jan 27, 2025 | AOC Business Partner
(Pictured above: An employee drives the research planter to the wheat research plots before sunrise at the OSU Columbia Basin Agricultural Research Center near Pendleton. Credited to Lynn Ketchum, OSU)
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: OSU Extension Services
Farmers and ranchers face overwhelming stress from market fluctuations, crop failures, unpredictable weather, injuries and other setbacks, leading to depression and, too often, suicide. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, male loggers and commercial fishers’ risk of suicide are among the highest among all occupations: nearly five times the rate of the general male population — 114 and 112 per 100,000, respectively.
Male farmers die by suicide at twice the rate of the general population, with 48 per 100,000 people. This alarming trend has been rising in recent years, particularly among rural men over 49, who are considered a high-risk group. Suicide data by occupation reveal that loggers, commercial fishers, farmers and ranchers are among those with the highest risk.
To address this crisis, the AgriStress Helpline launched in Oregon in September 2023. Available 24/7 by call or text at 833-897-2474, the helpline is staffed by certified suicide preventionists with additional training in issues specific to Oregon’s agriculture and natural resource communities. The Oregon Legislature passed Senate Bill 955 in 2023, providing a one-time general fund appropriation to establish an endowment for Oregon State University Extension Service to implement and operate the helpline in its first year. A coalition of 27 agriculture, timber, and health care organizations advocated for the passage of SB 955.
Allison Myers, associate dean in OSU’s College of Health, and Todd Nash, a Wallowa County rancher and past president of the Oregon Cattlemen’s Association, were instrumental in building support for the helpline. Oregon is the first state to operate the AgriStress Helpline in partnership with an Extension service.
As of September 2024, the helpline had provided support and referrals, including crisis interventions, for callers from 21 counties. While call details remain confidential, available data show that the helpline is effectively reaching its intended audience, with callers expressing a preference for a service tailored specifically to their needs.
This helpline is one of several OSU Extension programs and initiatives collaborating with farmers, families and communities to implement evidence-based strategies that promote mental health and reduce substance use in rural Oregon.
The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network — an OSU Extension program that launched in 2021 — uses QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) to teach farmers, ranchers, and their family and friends how to recognize signs of a mental health emergency and interrupt the process that leads to suicide.
The network website includes a list of the signs and symptoms of stress and suicide, such as withdrawal from others, giving away precious possessions, depression, drug or alcohol abuse, or decline in the care of livestock, farmstead appearance and personal care.
To train people to be a positive force, OSU Extension offers QPR trainings, many of which are on Zoom. Participants learn to recognize the signs of suicide and question someone in crisis, persuade them to seek help, and refer them to a hospital, counselor, or other resources to get the help they need.
OSU Extension through QPR has trained more than 450 people in how to recognize signs of distress and intervene in mental health emergencies. In post-course surveys, 67% of participants indicated an increase in knowledge of warning signs of suicide, and 83% reported an increased understanding of suicide prevention facts, risk factors, and how to ask someone about suicide.
Additionally, 67% reported an increased understanding of how to persuade someone to get help, and 83% said they would likely ask someone about suicide if they saw warning signs and were concerned.
OSU is part of four regional Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network entities across the United States funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
The Coast to Forest collaboration between the OSU Extension Family and Community Health Program and the OSU Center for Health Innovation works on mental health promotion and substance use prevention.
Coast to Forest goals include:
- Improving mental health and well-being
- Expanding training tools and technical assistance through the OSU Extension Service and the OSU College of Health
- Building capacity in rural Oregon to prevent and reduce opioid and stimulant use disorders and their consequences and move people to recovery
The Coast to Forest initiative builds upon existing state and community strengths and resources. This includes a growing network of community health workers, radio stations covering communities’ health and wellness, community level partnerships and an expanding Mental Health First Aid network.
OSU Extension is committed to enhancing mental health support for rural communities, addressing the unique stressors faced by farmers, ranchers and natural resource workers. Through initiatives like the AgriStress Helpline and training programs, OSU Extension provides critical resources to prevent suicide, promote mental well-being and reduce substance use.
Story sources: Allison Myers, Julie Leep, Cassie Bouska — Oregon State University Extension Service
Read this article online: https://beav.es/Gux
Jan 23, 2025 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: iSector
At the Oregon iSector, we bring together leaders from the private, public, and civic sectors to tackle Oregon’s most complex challenges. Through partnerships and innovative systems, we aim to build thriving communities statewide. Highlighting this mission, we are proud to present two initiatives focused on building the capacity of rural jurisdictions to drive progress and unlock potential.
Housing Innovation Partnership (HIP)
REGIONAL HOUSING COORDINATORS
THE CHALLENGE
Oregon’s housing shortage, particularly for workforce housing, limits economic growth and community vitality. Employers struggle to attract workers due to a lack of affordable housing, while developers face barriers to financing projects. Rural areas are especially impacted, with few resources to address these challenges.
The iSector’s Housing Innovation Partnership (HIP), a partnership of 35+ with a shared goal to increase housing production in Oregon has become aware of both existing successful and promising potential efforts to bring employers together with developers in building housing. The missing link is the need for someone to play the catalyst role in bringing the needed partners together at the community level.
THE SOLUTION
The HIP proposes creating five Regional Housing Coordinators across the state. These coordinators will work across sectors to:
- Inform local businesses, school districts, hospitals and other employers about opportunities to co-invest in housing.
- Provide support for developers and builders by connecting them with investment partners, available land, and housing resources. The coordinators would work to help create a network of support at the community level.
- Work with cities and counties to inform them of housing opportunities and how they can contribute to co-investment efforts through financial incentives and identifying available lands for development.
- Assist partners in developing agreements and strategies as well as removing barriers to co-investment in housing.
NW Rural Investment Strategy (NWRIS)
RURAL COMMUNITY RESOURCE CENTER
THE CHALLENGE
Rural Communities often lack the staff capacity to plan, access and manage resources that come in the form of State and Federal funding; philanthropic investments; and partnerships with the private sector. At the same time, unprecedented resources are available from the federal government to support rural cities and counties; state resources are being allocated for targeted needs; and the philanthropic community increasingly is looking for new ways to help these underserved communities. Even in this resource rich environment, rural communities are not in a position to seize these opportunities. Rural communities are a critical component to Oregon’s economic future and deserve the foundational basic support they need to do so.
THE SOLUTION
Local Capacity
The Oregon iSector has worked with legislators, local officials, and others to develop a Rural Community Resource Center that will provide resources for building the capacity of and providing technical assistance to rural communities, helping to break this cycle of disinvestment. It will serve as a one-stop hub for rural leaders, housing: project managers; grant writers; professional staff expertise in public works; engineering; community development; land use planning; transportation; public administration and finance. This staff resource would be available to rural communities throughout the state to fill the gaps that exist today and position communities to prosper and seize opportunities that they could not, given the lack of access to this expertise.
Community Leverage Fund
To accelerate on the ground action and leverage public, private and civic resources, the Centers budget would include a leverage fund. The fund would allow communities and regions to offer incentives for collaborative multi-sector work and serve communities with the most significant concentrations of poverty. The fund would be deployed on a regional basis to ensure equitable distribution.
Building a Thriving Future
Both initiatives reflect Oregon iSector’s mission to empower communities through partnerships and innovation. By addressing housing shortages and capacity gaps, these programs pave the way for economic growth and resilience in rural Oregon. At iSector, we are committed to creating sustainable systems and opportunities for every corner of the state. Reach out to us today to learn how we can support your community’s growth and success.
Jan 23, 2025 | AOC Business Partner
Sponsored content contributed by AOC Business Partner: CIS
Local government leaders are invited to attend the 23rd CIS Annual Conference to deepen their understanding of risk management and enhance their ability to lead resilient communities. The CIS Annual Conference focuses on equipping top leaders with practical strategies to mitigate risks and prevent costly incidents before they happen.
The conference features sessions tailored to address pressing challenges faced by Oregon’s cities and counties. Sessions such as 2025 Case Law/Legal Updates, Navigating Ordinances and Risks: A Practical Guide for Homeless Community Services, and Continuity of Operations Planning and Tabletop Exercises for Disaster Preparedness provide essential updates on emerging legal risks and strategies for responding to emergencies effectively. These sessions will help local leaders understand their liability exposure and legal responsibilities, ensuring better preparation for unforeseen events.
Additionally, the session Do’s and Don’ts of Cyber Incident Response emphasizes the growing importance of cybersecurity for public entities, offering actionable advice on preventing cyberattacks, which have become an increasing threat to local governments.
“Proactive risk management can make all the difference in protecting the public interest,” said CIS’ Executive Director Patrick Priest. “Our conference is designed to provide leaders with the knowledge and resources to build safer, stronger communities.”
Key Conference Highlights
- Networking Opportunities — Connect with peers and experts across Oregon to share ideas, solutions, and best practices for tackling local challenges.
- Flexible Attendance Options — The conference offers hybrid attendance, allowing participants to join in person or virtually through CIS’ Attendee Hub. With affordable registration fees and on-demand access to recorded sessions, attendees can engage in the event in a way that works best for them.
- Continuing Education Credits — Attendees can earn up to 8 MCLE, 4 SHRM, and 16 DPSST continuing education credits. Additionally, participants can earn risk management certification credits across multiple categories, including emergency preparedness, cybersecurity, and legal compliance, ensuring they stay current on essential risk management practices.
Registration Details
Join fellow local leaders in learning how to build risk-aware organizations and foster stronger communities. For more information, contact CIS at conference@cisoregon.org.
