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Missouri launches mental health hotline for farmers in crisis

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Missouri launches mental health hotline for farmers in crisis


MISSOURI − Missouri has a brand new psychological well being helpline for one among its most distressed populations, farmers and ranchers.

The Missouri Division of Agriculture (MDA) launched the AgriStress Helpline on Aug. 8. The helpline is a free, confidential service that connects agricultural producers and rural households with psychological well being care professionals who’ve an agricultural background.

Chris Chinn, the director of the MDA, mentioned it has been a troublesome time for farmers and ranchers throughout the state.

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“It is a actually distinctive time in agriculture. We now have seen all of our enter costs greater than double,” Chinn mentioned. “We have had climate challenges, and we have additionally had provide chain challenges as properly. And there is simply a variety of stress out right here within the agriculture group proper now.”

Chinn additionally mentioned there was a variety of enter prices.

“Greater than double our feed prices have gone up, our gasoline prices have gone up, we have had the availability chain challenges, problem in sourcing fertilizer, the record goes on and on,” Chinn mentioned. “However then we had a drought.”

MDA began engaged on the hotline within the spring, and officers say they excited to see it come simply in time for the demanding harvest season.

“A demanding season is on the brink of stumble upon us with harvest simply across the nook,” Chinn mentioned. “We wished farmers to know that they wanted somebody to speak to you that understood the challenges that they had been dealing with.”

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MDA partnered with the AgriSafe Community to employees the strains. When the helpline known as, a educated receptionist who additionally has an agriculture background will reply. 

“A few of them is likely to be spouses of farmers or ranchers themselves, as a result of they perceive what it means when a levee is nearly to interrupt or what it means when there’s a massive rain coming proper in the course of mowing their hay season,” Chinn defined.

“So these are issues which might be crucial to farmers and ranchers to guarantee that after they’re sharing their challenges, that voice on the opposite finish of the road understands the impression that that problem has on their household and on their farm.”

The speed of suicide in rural Missouri counties is rising 50% quicker than the speed in city counties, in keeping with 2020 information from the Missouri Division of well being.

Roughly 3,780 rural Missourians died by suicide from 2003 to 2017, in keeping with 2020 information from the Well being Assets and Companies Administration (HRSA). The speed of deaths per 100,000 rural residents was 12 in 2003, however climbed to 21.3 per 100,000 by 2017. That is a 78% enhance in 14 years, whereas the city charge elevated 52% throughout the identical time interval.

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Rural males had the very best suicide charge in Missouri at barely greater than 35 deaths per 100,000 residents. The speed for rural males was double the speed for males statewide and 5 instances the speed for rural girls. There have been 329 suicide deaths in rural Missouri in 2017 and 84% of them had been males.

Missouri has 3.7% of the beneficial provide of psychological well being professionals essential to serve its inhabitants, in keeping with the identical information from the HSRA.

All 99 of Missouri’s rural counties face a scarcity of psychological well being professionals, together with 57 counties that do not have a licensed psychologist or psychiatrist in any respect, the HSRA experiences.

Garrett Hawkins, a farmer and president of the Missouri Farm Bureau, mentioned there’s extra stress than crops not rising.

“There are a variety of components that play into it, on high of simply relationships,” Hawkins mentioned. “Many instances our farms and ranch operations are household owned and operated, whether or not it is a guardian and son, or it may very well be nieces and nephews concerned. And so anytime that you’ve household concerned that may additionally add stress to what’s a demanding career.”

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Hawkins mentioned there tends to be a stigma round farmers not exhibiting their emotions. As time goes on, he mentioned farmers and ranchers are studying that it helps after they have somebody to speak to, particularly after they perceive their struggles.

“We as farmers and ranchers, we cope with so much, and I all the time maintain my grandpa in regard for being powerful, however typically you simply want somebody to speak to,” Hawkins mentioned.

Hawkins mentioned he helps his colleagues and is aware of that farmers are resilient and may get by means of powerful instances.

“I’d say to my fellow farmers and ranchers is that it is okay to not be okay,” Hawkins mentioned. “All of us cope with troublesome circumstances on the farm gear breakdowns, drought this summer season, skyrocketing enter prices, all this stuff create demanding conditions.”

The hotline quantity, which accepts calls or texts, is 833-897-2474. The road is open and staffed 24 hours a day, seven days per week.

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Meet the 6-foot-3 Missouri high school lefty who just struck out 22 in a game – and is still uncommitted

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Meet the 6-foot-3 Missouri high school lefty who just struck out 22 in a game – and is still uncommitted


Turns out Mason Morris did get credit for the win – and he earned every bit of it.

After throwing 8.1 shutout innings and striking out 22 in Putnam County’s 1-0 walk-off win over Green City, the official scorer awarded the senior lefty the W, despite reliever Sawyer Morgan technically being the pitcher of record when the winning run crossed. The scorer used discretion, and rightly so: Morris had just struck out his 22nd batter – the final one he’d face – before exiting to a standing ovation.

Putnam County baseball: Mason Morris

Armed with a fastball he’s gotten up to 85 mph, Morris has racked up 338 career varsity strikeouts with Putnam County. / Courtesy photo, Mason Morris

The game, already historic, now holds even more meaning for Morris.

“That game was very special to me for a few different reasons,” Morris said. “The biggest was being able to break Gage Pearson’s single-season strikeout record – and having him there to see it and congratulate me.”

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Pearson, a former standout in the program, is someone Morris has looked up to for some time. For Morris, being mentioned in the same breath with Pearson – much less surpassing him – was emotional.

“I’ve always really looked up to him. He’s someone who’s held in very high regard in our community,” Morris said. “Him and his family have done a ton for the baseball program at Putnam, and it feels good to kind of carry on his legacy and put my name right up there with his.”

“To be able to have a game like that in front of the home crowd felt amazing,” Morris said. “This is a super supportive community, and it felt good to perform like that in front of them. Especially because that could be our last home game of the year – and my last home game ever.”

– Putnam County senior, Mason Morris

Morris broke multiple Putnam County program records in the win, including the all-time single-game strikeout mark with 22 and the season strikeout record, now at 136 and counting. His career total sits at 338.

“I’ve had my eye on that single-game strikeout record since I started playing at Putnam,” he added.

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And if this was indeed his final game at home, he made it one to remember.

Putnam County baseball: Mason Morris

At 6-foot-3, 190-pounds and still uncommitted, Morris also broke the school’s record for home runs hit in a single season during the 2025 campaign. He currently has 13. / Photo courtesy Mason Morris

“To be able to have a game like that in front of the home crowd felt amazing,” Morris said. “This is a super supportive community, and it felt good to perform like that in front of them. Especially because that could be our last home game of the year – and my last home game ever.”

Despite the eye-popping numbers, Morris remains uncommitted. That said, the interest is heating up.

“I do have several different offers from NAIA and JUCO schools,” he said. “Recruiting attention has really picked up here in the last two weeks. I’ve got some visits scheduled, but I’m still pretty open. I’m just looking for a home where I can go compete and develop to become the best player I can. I’m just still looking for that perfect fit.”

For now, he’s focused on finishing the season strong – and maybe writing one more chapter in what’s already become a record-setting career.

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Putnam County baseball: Mason Morris

Mason Morris fires a pitch during a recent game for Putnam County. / Photo courtesy Mason Morris



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Deadly tornadoes carve paths of destruction in Kentucky, Missouri | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather

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Deadly tornadoes carve paths of destruction in Kentucky, Missouri | Latest Weather Clips | FOX Weather


Deadly tornadoes carve paths of destruction in Kentucky, Missouri

Recovery operations are underway in Kentucky and Missouri after deadly tornadoes carved paths of destruction across the regions, including the St. Louis area. FOX Weather Meteorologists Kendall Smith and Michael Estime break down the latest on May 18, 2025.



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Photos: Deadly tornadoes hit Kentucky and Missouri

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Photos: Deadly tornadoes hit Kentucky and Missouri


Anthony Broughton digs through the debris of his destroyed home following a severe storm in London, Ky., on Saturday.

Timothy D. Easley/AP


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At least 25 people have died due to storms and tornadoes in Kentucky and Missouri overnight. Officials expect the number to rise.

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Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear says there are over 700 personnel working to restore power in the state. He is asking the public to check on their neighbors after the severe weather. The National Weather Service says the tornado’s long path could make damage assessments a multi-day process.
 


A home is destroyed after a severe storm passed the area in London, Ky., on Saturday.

A home is destroyed after a severe storm passed the area in London, Ky., on Saturday.

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Destruction caused by a tornado in Somerset, Ky., on Saturday.

Destruction caused by a tornado in Somerset, Ky., on Saturday.

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Volunteers help clear debris from a road following severe storms last night in London, Ky., Saturday, May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley)

Volunteers help clear debris from a road following severe storms last night in London, Ky., on Saturday.

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A man uses a back hoe to move debris into a pile following severe storms in London, Ky., on Saturday.

A man uses a back hoe to move debris into a pile following severe storms in London, Ky., on Saturday.

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Houses in a neighborhood lie damaged after a tornado struck in St. Louis on

Houses in a neighborhood lie damaged after a tornado struck in St. Louis on

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