7 U.S.C. § 5936: Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network

The Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall make competitive grants to eligible entities described in subsection (c) to establish a Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network that provides stress assistance programs to individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other agriculture-related occupations. farm telephone helplines and websites; advocates for individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other occupations relating to agriculture; and are engaged in farming, ranching, and other occupations relating to agriculture; and are in crisis; support groups; and outreach services and activities, including the dissemination of information and materials; or to enter into contracts, on a multiyear basis, with community-based, direct-service organizations to initiate, expand, or sustain programs described in paragraph (1) and subsection (a). an Indian tribe (as defined in section 5304 of title 25 ); a State department of agriculture; a State cooperative extension service; a qualified nonprofit organization, as determined by the Secretary; an entity providing appropriate services, as determined by the Secretary, in 1 or more States; or a partnership carried out by 2 or more entities described in paragraphs (1) through (5). There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary to carry out this section $10,000,000 for each of fiscal years 2019 through 2023. Not later than 1 year after December 20, 2018 , the Secretary, in coordination with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall submit to Congress and any other relevant Federal department or agency, and make publicly available, a report describing the state of behavioral and mental health of individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other occupations relating to agriculture. the Federal Government, States, and units of local government; communities comprised of those individuals; health care providers; State cooperative extension services; and other appropriate entities, as determined by the Secretary; a description of the challenges faced by individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other occupations relating to agriculture that may impact the behavioral and mental health of farmers and ranchers; a description of how the Department of Agriculture can improve coordination and cooperation with Federal health departments and agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, the Health Resources and Services Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Institutes of Health, to best address the behavioral and mental health of individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other occupations relating to agriculture; a long-term strategy for responding to the challenges described under subparagraph (B) and recommendations based on best practices for further action to be carried out by appropriate Federal departments or agencies to improve Federal Government response and seek to prevent suicide among individuals who are engaged in farming, ranching, and other occupations relating to agriculture; and the agricultural workforce; agricultural production; rural families and communities; and succession planning. For purposes of this section, the term “State” has the meaning given such term in section 3103 of this title . The Secretary of Agriculture, in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services, shall carry out a public service announcement campaign to address the mental health of farmers and ranchers. The public service announcement campaign under paragraph (1) shall include television, radio, print, outdoor, and digital public service announcements. The Secretary of Agriculture may enter into a contract or other agreement with a third party to carry out the public service announcement campaign under paragraph (1). In awarding a contract under subparagraph (A), the Secretary of Agriculture shall use a competitive bidding process. There is authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary of Agriculture to carry out this subsection $3,000,000, to remain available until expended. Not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this subsection [ Jan. 1, 2021 ], the Secretary of Agriculture shall expand the pilot program carried out by the Secretary of Agriculture in fiscal year 2019 that trained employees of the Farm Service Agency in the management of stress experienced by farmers and ranchers, to train employees of the Farm Service Agency, the Risk Management Agency, and the Natural Resources Conservation Service in the management of stress experienced by farmers and ranchers, including the detection of stress and suicide prevention. Not less frequently than once every 2 years, the Secretary of Agriculture shall submit to the Committee on Agriculture of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry of the Senate a report describing the implementation of this subsection. to assess the causes of mental stress in farmers and ranchers; and to identify best practices for responding to that mental stress. Not later than 1 year after the date of enactment of this subsection, the task force convened under paragraph (1) shall submit to the Secretary of Agriculture a report containing the assessment and best practices under subparagraphs (A) and (B), respectively, of paragraph (1). In carrying out this subsection, the task force convened under paragraph (1) shall collaborate with nongovernmental organizations and State and local agencies. Any authorities provided under this section shall cease to be in effect on October 1, 2023 .”