Building healthier communities through land-grant mental health programs

Communities across the United States are affected by mental health challenges. The Land-grant University System is addressing those challenges through programs that provide practical skills training, supportive environments and pathways to healthier, more resilient lives.

Here are a few examples of that work:

• In Oregon, Extension professionals launched the AgriStress Helpline in 2023, providing 24/7 call and text support from suicide-preventionists trained in Oregon’s agricultural and natural-resource sectors, reaching callers in 21 counties statewide. The program also trained more than 450 people in Question-Persuade-Refer suicide prevention, strengthening intervention capacity, and secured $200,000 in state funding in June 2025 to sustain crisis support for rural communities.
  Oregon State University Extension Service. Supported by state appropriations; USDA competitive funds. See full statement.

• Researchers in Illinois found that nearly 12% of mothers experienced postpartum depression, which was linked to poorer executive function in children at 24 months and increased overeating by age 4. The findings highlight how maternal mental health can shape children’s emotional regulation and eating behaviors, underscoring the need for early intervention and support for mothers with depression.
  Illinois Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported by Hatch capacity funds; non-profit grants and contracts. See full statement.

• High school students nationwide are facing escalating mental health needs marked by rising stress, anxiety and emotional fatigue. In response, New Mexico researchers created a four-day camp that equipped 40 students with emotional regulation and coping skills through evidence-informed activities, producing measurable gains in emotional awareness, confidence, understanding of mental well-being and strong engagement, with participants reporting practical stress-management skills and increased self-confidence.
  New Mexico Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported by Hatch capacity funds. See full statement.

• Extension professionals in Indiana partnered with an educational program to support justice-involved individuals in overcoming addiction by delivering a 15-week Healthy Relationships curriculum alongside life skills and mental health programming. All participants reported improved understanding of healthy relationship qualities, warning signs of abuse and positive communication, along with plans to apply and share what they learned through meaningful conversations with family members.
  Purdue Extension. Supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) capacity funds. See full statement.

• Extension educators in Texas deliver youth mindfulness programming statewide to build resilience and promote well-being among youths aged 11-14 through a six-session curriculum offered in school and community settings. Evaluations showed significant gains, with social and emotional learning scores increasing 31.1% and mindfulness scores rising 50.5%, demonstrating measurable improvements in self-awareness, self-management, decision-making, relationship skills and social awareness among 381 participants.
  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension. Supported by state appropriations. See full statement.

• Michigan Extension professionals partnered with schools and youth-serving organizations to expand Mental Health First Aid training, preparing 684 adults and 1,862 teens to support peers and youths in crisis. This work fosters stronger partnerships and healthier communities statewide.
  Michigan State University Extension. Supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) capacity funds; state appropriations. See full statement.

• A collaboration between Extension faculty and behavioral health services is expanding opportunities for safe, sober activities in an Alaska community. In 2025, 11 clients and three medical professionals took part in a three-day meat processing workshop, learning reindeer cutting and processing techniques through a grant from a local telecommunications company.
  University of Alaska Fairbanks Cooperative Extension Service. Supported by Smith-Lever (3b&c) capacity funds. See full statement.