Project Description:
The FRSAN project is a collaboration between USU Extension, CPD, and HDFS to culturally and contextually adapt our existing and empirically supported mental health literacy and self-help skills programs/curricula for agricultural workers and gatekeepers serving agricultural workers (e.g. farm/ranch consultants, ecclesiastic leaders, Extension employees). First, we are expanding and adapting the Mental Health Awareness and Advocacy (MHAA) curriculum, which is a newly designed and empirically supported mental health literacy program, developed as collaboration with Utah State University (USU) Center for Persons with Disabilities (CPD) and department of Human Development and Family Studies (HDFS; Aller, 2019). It covers overlapping content with Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) and Question Persuade Refer (QPR), but adds unique features, such as utilizing a process-based model of assessment and program delivery, expanding content to include more than suicide prevention, and delivering content face-to-face and online. Second, we are providing a self-help resource for agricultural workers to help manage stress. This resource is based on principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which is an empirically supported mental health treatment that has strong research support from randomized control trials in diverse populations (persons with chronic pain, depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, et al.), and is typically delivered face-to-face with a trained therapists, but also effective in other modalities, such as self-help books (Kraft, et al., 2020). We are adapting and expanding on "ACT for Caregivers", an online program that was developed and evaluated by USU faculty (Fauth, Novak, & Levin, under review). In year one, we will build and deliver brief and ag-specific programs/content in Utah. In year two we will evaluate programs and create partnerships to share/adapt programs/content with the Western Region.
Core Function(s):
Performing Research or Evaluation, Developing & Disseminating Information, Continuing Education/Community Training
Target Audience:
Community Trainees / Short term trainees, Family Members/Caregivers, Adults with Disabilities, General Public
Unserved or Under-served Populations:
Geographic Areas, Rural/Remote
