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Apex Ag Solutions of Jonesboro has launched Tailgate Time, a new nonprofit mental health resource open to everyone in the northeast Arkansas agriculture industry.
Free licensed counseling support is available to local farmers and their family members. For professionals working for local ag businesses that offer health benefits, counseling services can be billed to their insurance providers.
Tailgate Time was launched to raise awareness of and improve access to these essential services for farmers, their families and those who serve the agricultural community.
Private in-person sessions are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Apex’s new full-service location on County Road 680 in Bay. When Apex acquired the 7.5-acre property last fall, it included more than 50,000 square feet of space, including offices that now accommodate Tailgate Time’s team of three mental health professionals. Remote telehealth sessions are also offered for farmers who find it difficult to access the clinic during regular hours. On-site emergency support is also available.
With farm bankruptcies continuing to rise and a suicide rate more than double the national average for agricultural workers, according to the National Rural Health Association, the need for specialized, local mental health support has never been more urgent. Despite the seriousness of the crisis, social stigma around mental health continues to be a major barrier to help-seeking.
“Tailgate Time is a place where farmers can talk openly, knowing their privacy is protected and stigma is left at the door,” said Mandy Young, agricultural mental health outreach training director for Tailgate Time. “Here, we help you process difficult issues, heal from trauma, build resilience tools, lead your family by example, and make self-care a part of staying strong—for yourself and those who depend on you.”
In addition to counseling services, Tailgate Time will host upcoming workshops with local farmers and agricultural business owners to train volunteers in mental health support.
For more information on Tailgate Time, visit www.tailgatetime.org or email mandy.young@tailgatetime.org.
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