Programs

COMET™ is a gentle introduction to supporting friends and neighbors in a vulnerable space to help them shift their mental health trajectory back to a place of wellness and away from the path of a mental health crisis.

Participants will learn how to initiate a supportive interaction for a potentially emotional conversation, how to exit the conversation in a supportive way, and resources to share with others if they need more than a listening ear.

Time commitment: 2 hours

Format: Virtual or In-person

Cost: Currently free, supported by the North Central Farm/Ranch Stress Assistance Center: Engaging Programs to Support Producer Well-being supported by USDA NIFA Award 2020-70028-32728; when grant funding is not available there may be charges for meeting space and trainers’ travel.

Target audience: Farmers, rural community members, agriculture service professionals, anyone who has contact with farmers

Upcoming virtual COMET™ trainings can be found here. If you would like to arrange a COMET™ for your agricultural business or organization, contact Danette Hopke (danette.hopke@wisc.edu, 715.733.1679) or Joy Kirkpatrick (joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu, 608.263.3485).

Just as CPR teaches you how to help someone having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid covers how to help someone experiencing a mental health challenge including, but not limited to, depression and anxiety symptoms, panic attacks and substance misuse, as well as someone thinking about suicide. The program gives participants the skills and confidence to provide initial support and respond in both crisis and non-crisis situations. Mental Health First Aid is a program that teaches participants how to identify, understand and respond to signs of these challenges.

Time commitment: approximately 8 hours (which includes short breaks and a meal break)

Format options:

• Blended virtual (2 hours online pre-work, 5.5 hours live, instructor-led virtual workshop)
• Blended in-person (2 hours of online pre-work, 5.5 hours in-person workshop)
• Fully in-person (7.5 hours in-person workshop)

Cost: Currently free, supported by the North Central Farm/Ranch Stress Assistance Center: Engaging Programs to Support Producer Well-being supported by USDA NIFA Award 2020-70028-32728 and the Wisconsin Rural Opioid and Stimulant Engagement (WiROSE) project; usually $25/person + meals and speaker travel costs if in-person

Target audience: Farmers, rural community members, agriculture service professionals, anyone who has contact with farmers

If you would like to arrange an Adult Mental Health First Aid training for your agricultural business or organization, complete this short interest form.

For more information about MHFA for the ag community, contact Joy Kirkpatrick (joy.kirkpatrick@wisc.edu, 608.263.3485).

For more information about MHFA in general, contact Danette Hopke (danette.hopke@wisc.edu, 715.733.1679).

QPR is a program that provides training on suicide prevention. It is specific to suicide prevention.

QPR teaches participants how to question, persuade and refer someone who may be suicidal, the common causes of suicidal behavior, the warning signs of suicide, and how to get help for someone in crisis.

Time commitment: 1 to 1 ½ hours

Format: Virtual or In-person

Cost: Currently free, supported by the North Central Farm/Ranch Stress Assistance Center: Engaging Programs to Support Producer Well-being supported by USDA NIFA Award 2020-70028-32728 and the CHS Farmer Wellbeing project 2020 funding; usually costs $29.95 to take the course online through the QPR Institute.

Target audience: Anyone who wants to be more comfortable in supporting someone who expresses suicidal thoughts or behaviors.

For more information about QPR, contact Danette Hopke (danette.hopke@wisc.edu, 715.733.1679).

WeCOPE (Connecting with Our Positive Emotions) is a practice and skills-based program featuring 11 targeted activities and “practices” that can measurably improve mental and physical health, happiness, and overall well-being.

Participants will learn skills such as mindfulness, savoring, positive reappraisal, gratitude, and goal setting.

Time commitment: 7 hours over 7 weeks (1 hour/week)

Format: Virtual or In-person

Cost: Currently free, supported by Wisconsin Rural Opioid and Stimulant Engagement (WiROSE) project

Target audience: Farmers and agriculture workers (agriculture version). Anyone who would like to improve their coping skills can access the general audience version.

To learn about WeCOPE trainings for the agriculture community, contact Danette Hopke (danette.hopke@wisc.edu, 715.733.1679).