Mental health is health.

It’s OK not to be OK.

The Pritzker administration – Tuesday at the Farm Progress Show in Decatur – announced an expansion of mental health services to people in the agriculture community. Those people tend to be isolated, older, and without easy access to medical services.

Gov. JB Pritzker said FFA members – part of Generation Z, which does not seem to see a stigma to mental health problems, compared to earlier generations – will serve as ambassadors for the program.

“We can all play a role in breaking down mental health stigma,” Stratton said. “Our administration is committed to digging in with all hands on deck so every Illinois is empowered to raise their voices and receive the resources they need for a good quality of life. The Rural Mental Health Grant Program is a major step in our work to do just that by investing in resources that break down barriers to accessing mental health resources.”

The pilot program’s phone number is still in effect: (833) FARM-SOS.