The Warwick Area Farmworker Organization is offering a special program on mental health for the Farming Community. The program will be held on February 18th from 1-3 pm, at the Alamo Community Center. This important issue has been raised Farmers are three and a half times more likely  to die by suicide than the general population according to the National Rural Health Association. Rural areas can present challenges for suicide  prevention. Homes are often more spread out and access to health and behavioral health care providers and emergency medical facilities may be more limited. Access to lethal means, particularly firearms, may also be greater in rural than in urban areas.

Farmers, farmworkers and ranchers in the U.S. have demanding jobs that are often compounded by economic uncertainty, vulnerability to weather events, and isolation. Addressing mental health challenges is critical so that farmers and farmworkers can successfully navigate other stressors that are common in their day-to-day lives. The program offered by WAFO will include resources and support for the farming community on this topic.

This important topic will be discussed by two presenters: Chris Pawelski and Judy Batista. The program will be held in Spanish and English. Chris Pawelski is a  4th generation farmer who has been very active in numerous farming related issues over  the years. He has also faced numerous challenges over the years, including the weather, the markets and family. When the challenges and pressures reached a breaking point he was able to reach out to NY FarmNet which provided needed assistance to help with those challenges. He and his wife were featured in a film about this topic, “Muckville”, will be viewed during the program.

Judy Battista is a Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Advocate. A Warwick resident for over 33 years where she raised her family. After the loss of her 20 year old son Daniel to suicide in 2008, Judy has helped numerous families by sharing her story, and offering hope. She established “Tista 4 Life” in Danny’s memory, organizing monthly support groups, annual blood drives, and community awareness presentations and events. Judy, is a healing conversations coordinator with the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and founder of Warwick Cares – mental health, and suicide prevention initiatives.

Judy is a trained facilitator and certified trainer for teens-adults in mental health, and suicide prevention. She advocates in the Spanish-speaking community  organizing and offering bilingual trainings, awareness, and cultural presentations.

To register for this program, please contact: kbrieger@sunriver.org or call: 845-258-1560. For more information or to become involved with the Warwick Area  Farmworkers Organization, please visit the website at: www.wafarmworkers.org or visit our Facebook page.