The Hot Dish

In rural America, farmers face unique stressors that can exacerbate mental health concerns, such as fluctuating commodity prices and climate-related issues. In this episode, Heidi and Joel explore solutions for rural America's mental health crisis with Alexa McKinley and Tara Haskins to discover how we can address mental health and decrease rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide amongst farmers. Alexa McKinley and Tara Haskins discuss their experiences working with farmers and addressing these mental health concerns, emphasizing how financial incentives and pipeline programs can address the stigma around treatment and improve mental health in rural America.Alexa McKinley is the Regulatory Affairs Manager at the National Rural Health Association. Tara Haskins currently serves as the Director of the Total Farm Health Initiative at AgriSafe.To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.

Show Notes

In rural America, farmers face unique stressors that can exacerbate mental health concerns, such as fluctuating commodity prices and climate-related issues. In this episode, Heidi and Joel explore solutions for rural America's mental health crisis with Alexa McKinley and Tara Haskins to discover how we can address mental health and decrease rates of anxiety, depression, and suicide amongst farmers. 


Alexa McKinley and Tara Haskins discuss their experiences working with farmers and addressing these mental health concerns, emphasizing how financial incentives and pipeline programs can address the stigma around treatment and improve mental health in rural America.


Alexa McKinley is the Regulatory Affairs Manager at the National Rural Health Association. 


Tara Haskins currently serves as the Director of the Total Farm Health Initiative at AgriSafe.


To find out more about the One Country Project, visit our website.

Creators and Guests

Host
Heidi Heitkamp
U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp served as the first female senator elected from North Dakota from 2013 – 2019. he is the founder and Chair of the One Country Project, an organization focused on addressing the needs and concerns of rural America. Heidi was recently named the Director of the Institute of Politics at the University of Chicago, a university she has long been committed to and a place where she enjoys engaging with students over civic discussions while encouraging them to seek opportunities in public service to our country. Heidi also serves as a contributor to both CNBC and ABC News.
Host
Joel Heitkamp
He is an multi-award winning talk show host both regionally and nationally. Before radio, he served in the North Dakota Senate from 1995-2008.
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Producer
Caroline Cooper
Editor
Ismael Balderas-Wong
Head of Production at Voxtopica

What is The Hot Dish?

Former U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp and her brother, KFGO radio talk show host Joel Heitkamp, engage in animated discussions with newsmakers, elected leaders, and policymakers who are creating new opportunities for rural Americans and finding practical solutions to their challenges. Punctuated with entertaining conversations and a healthy dose of sibling rivalry, The Hot Dish, from the One Country Project, is informative, enlightening, and downright fun.