As a grandson of an Iowa farmer and as a grandson of a butcher shop owner in Murray, Utah, I found it very gratifying to write and send this follow-up letter today to Utah State House Majority Leader Mike Schultz:
----- Forwarded Message -----
From: "John McMillan" <mcmillanj@att.net>
To: "Mike Schultz" <mikeschultz@le.utah.gov>, "Office of Gov. Spencer Cox" <govcomm@utah.gov>, "Utah Lt. Gov. Deidre Henderson 2021" <beckiepage@utah.gov>, "mballard@le.utah.gov" <mballard@le.utah.gov>, "Gay Lynn Bennion" <glbennion@le.utah.gov>, "Paul A. Cutler" <pcutler@le.utah.gov>, "Angela Romero" <angelaromero@le.utah.gov>, "utahdistrict02@gmail.com" <utahdistrict02@gmail.com>, "Internships" <internships@romney.senate.gov>, "Joel_wellum" <joel_wellum@lee.senate.gov>, "Mayor Wilson" <mayor@slco.org>, "County Council Member Bradshaw" <arbradshaw@slco.org>, "llstringham@slco.org" <llstringham@slco.org>, "suharrison@slco.org" <suharrison@slco.org>, "agriculture@utah.gov" <agriculture@utah.gov>, "Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall 2021" <mayor@slcgov.com>, "Salt Lake City (UT) City Council" <council.comments@slcgov.com>, "alex.cordova@usda.gov" <alex.cordova@usda.gov>, "collaborate@usda.gov" <collaborate@usda.gov>, "Utah Restaurant Association 2022" <info@utahrestaurantassociation.org>, "membership@utahretail.com" <membership@utahretail.com>, "wbrooks@le.utah.gov" <wbrooks@le.utah.gov>, "rshipp@le.utah.gov" <rshipp@le.utah.gov>, "bbolinder@le.utah.gov" <bbolinder@le.utah.gov>, "Joel Briscoe" <jbriscoe@le.utah.gov>, "Jplumb" <jplumb@le.utah.gov>, "scottchew@le.utah.gov" <scottchew@le.utah.gov>, "tjimenez@le.utah.gov" <tjimenez@le.utah.gov>, "mkohler@le.utah.gov" <mkohler@le.utah.gov>, "slund@le.utah.gov" <slund@le.utah.gov>, "Doug Owens" <dougowens@le.utah.gov>, "tpeterson@le.utah.gov" <tpeterson@le.utah.gov>, "csnider@le.utah.gov" <csnider@le.utah.gov>, "kstratton@le.utah.gov" <kstratton@le.utah.gov>, "christinewatkins@le.utah.gov" <christinewatkins@le.utah.gov>, "chart@le.utah.gov" <chart@le.utah.gov>, "Deseret News 2022" <dnweb@deseretnews.com>, "Utah Farm Bureau Federation 2022" <aubree.thomas@fbfs.com>, "National Farmers Union Legislative Director" <cgoule@nfudc.org>, "klindeman@vialink.org" <klindeman@vialink.org>, "jsweeney@sltrib.com" <jsweeney@sltrib.com>, "Utah State Univ Communications 2022" <ucom@usu.edu>, "Utah State University Provost 2022" <provost@usu.edu>, "Utah Public Radio 2022" <tom.williams@usu.edu>, "Fox News SLC 2022" <news@fox13now.com>, "Jennifer Gardiner" <jgardiner@abc4.com>, "nbauer@abc4.com" <nbauer@abc4.com>, "chad.atkinson" <chad.atkinson@slcgov.com>, "Adult Protective UT Supvr Chad Hansen" <cbhanse@utah.gov>, "bruce.ellis@psych.utah.edu" <bruce.ellis@psych.utah.edu>, "Monisha Pasupathi (she/hers)" <monisha.pasupathi@psych.utah.edu>, "media@utahsafetycouncil.org" <media@utahsafetycouncil.org>, "communications@utahbar.org" <communications@utahbar.org>, "commerce@utah.gov" <commerce@utah.gov>, "University of Utah Student Newspaper 2022" <press@chronicle.utah.edu>, "Utah Press Assn Director Brian Allfrey 2022" <ballfrey@utahpress.com>, "mediarelations@weber.edu" <mediarelations@weber.edu>, "jyl.hall@utahtech.edu" <jyl.hall@utahtech.edu>, "Utahia Info" <info@utahia.org>, "Utah State Magazine 2022" <mageditor@usu.edu>, "State Farm" <info@statefarm.com>, "Uag" <uag@agutah.gov>, "Utah League of Cities and Towns 2022" <swood@ulct.org>, "Attorney General of Utah" <uag@utah.gov>, "nytnews@nytimes.com" <nytnews@nytimes.com>, "social@usatoday.com" <social@usatoday.com>, "media@utahsafetycouncil.org" <media@utahsafetycouncil.org>, "Utah Restaurant Association 2022" <info@utahrestaurantassociation.org>, "The New Yorker Mail" <themail@newyorker.com>, "Letters" <letters@seattletimes.com>, "WashingtonPostLettersEditor" <letters@washpost.com>, "The State of Idaho" <itdcommunication@itd.idaho.gov>, "media@nmag.gov" <media@nmag.gov>, "National Press Club 2021" <headliners@press.org>, "National Association of Insurance Commissioners 2022" <news@naic.org>, "communications@ogdencity.com" <communications@ogdencity.com>, "newsroom@mpr.org" <newsroom@mpr.org>, "Utah Educational TV 2022" <resources@uen.org>, "sociology@byu.edu" <sociology@byu.edu>, "byu-info@byu.edu" <byu-info@byu.edu>, "Utah Republican Party" <info@utgop.org>, "Angela Romero" <angelaromero@le.utah.gov>, "Jen Dailey-Provost" <jdprovost@le.utah.gov>, "National Public Radio" <ogcstaff@npr.org>, "SaltLakeCityTribuneEditors" <letters@sltrib.com>, "h.rincon@agri.nv.gov" <h.rincon@agri.nv.gov>, "The Progressive Magazine" <editorial@progressive.org>, "mediarelations@weber.edu" <mediarelations@weber.edu>, "library-pr@byu.edu" <library-pr@byu.edu>, "brooks_britt@byu.edu" <brooks_britt@byu.edu>, "Center for Science In the Public Interest" <cspi@cspinet.org>, "Reader's Digest Editors 2016" <rdeditorial@rd.com>, "NBC Nightly News Headqrtrs 2016" <contact.nbcnews@nbcuni.com>, "St. James Episcopal Church" <wendy@stjamesutah.com>, "contactudot@utah.gov" <contactudot@utah.gov>, "emcmillan@utah.gov" <emcmillan@utah.gov>, "laborcom@utah.gov" <laborcom@utah.gov>, "Utah League of Cities and Towns 2022" <swood@ulct.org>, "Mike Weichers" <mweichers@ch.utah.gov>, "Matt Bernstein Boston Globe (2016)" <mbernstein@globe.com>, "Time Magazine Editors" <letters@time.com>, "Guardian (England) Story Ideas 2020" <guardian.letters@theguardian.com>, "The London Times Letters to Editor" <letters@thetimes.co.uk>, "The Economist" <letters@economist.com>, "Joe Dougherty (DHHS)" <joedougherty@utah.gov>, "Mark A. Strong" <mstrong@le.utah.gov>, "kcullimore@le.utah.gov" <kcullimore@le.utah.gov>, "Westminster College Provost 2022" <rbadenhausen@westminstercollege.edu>, "Westminster College Political Science Prof Zarkin 2022" <mzarkin@westminstercollege.edu>, "Schools Utah Webmaster" <webmaster@schools.utah.gov>, "Utah State Magazine 2022" <mageditor@usu.edu>, "chad.atkinson" <chad.atkinson@slcgov.com>, "mike.brown" <mike.brown@slcgov.com>, "SLCPD Outreach" <slcpdoutreach@slcgov.com>, "slcpdpr@slcgov.com" <slcpdpr@slcgov.com>, "todd.mitchell" <todd.mitchell@slcgov.com>, "releases@startribune.com" <releases@startribune.com>, "Bloomberg Media 2015" <release@bloomberg.net>
Sent: Fri, Feb 2, 2024 at 10:30 PM
Subject: Re: Utah Not Served by AgriSafe's 'AgriStress' Helpline
From John Kevin McMillan, 535 South 200 East,
Apt. 912, Salt Lake City, UT 84111. My cell phone: (512) 993-7305. My home phone: (801) 355-0850.
February 2, 2024
Dear Utah State House Majority Leader Mike Schultz,
After writing you yesterday (farther below), I need to add that there appears to be an urgent need for Utah State House approval of funding for a new study.
I am referring to a proposed joint Utah Department of Agriculture and Utah Department of Health and Human Services study to identify the most frequent common denominators in the reported respective cases of farmers in Utah, agricultural workers in Utah, and ranchers in Utah either ATTEMPTING to commit suicide or committing suicide in the time period since January 1, 2000.
Among the factors the study could examine might be the age of each of the individuals included in the study. I have read that Utahn farmers age 65 or older are at significantly higher risk of committing suicide than Utahn farmers of younger age groups.
Other factors that could be evaluated in the proposed new study might be: Did the farmer actually own the entire farm where he worked? If he instead worked as an agricultural laborer on farm property owned by another person or by a corporation, was he at increased risk (or possibly at lower risk) of attempting to commit suicide or committing suicide?
It is likely that many Utahn farmers are unhappy with substandard driving conditions on the roadways nearest to their farm---including, I assume, icy and snow-covered conditions resulting from delays in removal by state or local government employees of ice and snow from those roadways.
It is also possible that many Utahn farmers are unhappy with road conditions on the highways those farmers drive their produce on in transporting their crops or chicken eggs or farm animals to market. That possible dissatisfaction of Utahn farmers with roadways they need to travel on in our state might also increase Utahn farmers' risk of attempting to commit suicide.
Below are numerous links to copyrighted online reports about Utahn farmers, and American farmers in general, suffering from depression and being more likely than other occupational groups to commit suicide.
Also included below, in no particular order, are links to copyrighted reports about strategies that might help reduce Utahn farmers' and other American farmers' anxiety levels, and at least one link, last item below, to very favorable copyrighted reports about great accomplishments by Utahn farmers.
That flattering information about our state's farmers could be shared proactively with as many news media organizations and civic groups or religious groups or political groups in our state as possible. That favorable publicity for Utahn farmers could significantly boost their morale while helping to reduce their attempted suicide rates and suicide rates.
https://kutv.com/news/eye-on-your-money/utah-offers-farmers-and-ranchers-2k-vouchers-to-help-their-mental-health-department-of-agriculture-and-food-spring-flooding-drought-udaf-food
https://www.herrimanjournal.com/2023/06/02/437229/depression-rates-in-utah-remain-high#:~:text=The%20state%20has%20some%20of,to%20conform%20to%20social%20expectations
https://www.upr.org/health/2019-11-19/hopelessness-suicide-rates-rise-in-agricultural-communities
https://www.usu.edu/today/story/usu-extension-provides-mental-health-resources-for-agricultural-community
https://www.fb.org/initiative/farm-state-of-mind#:~:text=Farming%20is%20a%20stressful%20occupation,higher%20than%20the%20national%20average
https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2023/04/12/utah-mental-health-county-health-rankings-cdc
https://sprc.org/news/why-are-americas-farmers-killing-themselves-in-record-numbers/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20emotional%20well%2Dbeing%20of,preventing%20suicide%20in%20agricultural%20populations
https://extension.psu.edu/why-we-need-to-keep-talking-about-farm-stress#:~:text=In%20a%20closer%20examination%20of,rate%20among%20occupational%20groups%20(6
https://www.utahfarmbureau.org/Article/UDAF-Announces-Ag-Stress-Assistance-Program
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ajim.23399
https://www.canr.msu.edu/managing_farm_stress/rural-resiliency-online-course-afbf
https://kslnewsradio.com/1993720/new-mental-health-program-focuses-on-utah-farmers/
https://www.usda.gov/topics/opioids
https://www.texastribune.org/2023/01/11/texas-farmer-mental-health-helpline-suicide/
https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/farmer-mental-health
https://www.samhsa.gov/
https://newhampshirebulletin.com/2023/10/13/americas-farmers-are-getting-older-and-young-people-arent-rushing-to-join-them/#:~:text=The%20average%20American%20farmer%20is,this%20trend%20and%20its%20implications
https://kutv.com/news/local/utahns-in-farming-and-ranching-communities-combat-high-suicide-rate
https://utah.agclassroom.org/lessons/counties/
________
On Thu, Feb 1, 2024 at 9:53 PM, John McMillan
<mcmillanj@att.net> wrote:
February 1, 2024
https://www.agrisafe.org/agristress-helpline/
Dear Utah State House Majority Leader Mike Schultz,
I am grateful to you for kindly inviting me on December 6, 2023, to send you additional letters about concerns of mine relating to Utah.
I was disappointed to learn today that farmers in Utah are not currently served by the 24-hour-a-day and year-round "AgriStress" Helpline and Hotline. That life-saving hotline is specifically tailored to meet the needs of farmers and their families, and is provided by the Iowa-based nonprofit group "AgriSafe".
That helpline and hotline's toll-free telephone number is 1-833-897-2474.
The "AgriStress" Helpline phone service is the only 24-hour-a-day year-round telephone emotional support and counseling and referral helpline or hotline service specifically for farmers that I was able to find today through online research.
Eligibility for obtaining emotional support or counseling or referral assistance from that helpline and hotline service is currently limited to farmers, agricultural workers, ranchers, and family members of theirs who each reside in either Wyoming, Oregon, Washington State, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Texas, Virginia, or Connecticut, according to "AgriStress" hotline staff members Jada and Christie.
The online home page for the AgriSafe website is:
https://www.agrisafe.org/
State House Majority Leader Schultz, I am very hopeful that the Utah State House under your fine leadership will provide any funding needed toward adding any and all farmers in Utah and their family members in Utah----as well as any and all agricultural workers or ranchers in Utah and their relatives in Utah---- to the list of persons who qualify as soon as possible for that free 24-hour-a-day year-round counseling, emotional support, and referral service thorough this invaluable nationwide "AgriStress" Helpline and Hotline.
The Crisis Contract Coordinator for the "AgriStress" Helpline and Hotline is Kira Lindeman, her e-mail address "klindeman@vialink.org", according to Christie, a staff member for the helpline and hotline.
House Majority Leader Schultz, I hope this brainstorming letter is helpful to you, your colleagues in the House, and our state's farmers.
Sincerely and Best Wishes,
John Kevin McMillan, 535 South 200 East, Apt. 912, Ninth Floor, Salt Lake City, UT 84111.
I am a grandson of Iowa farmer Russell Gardner of Johnson County, Iowa, and Murray (UT) butcher shop owner Parley Neal McMillan of Murray.
My cell phone: (512) 993-7305.
My home phone: (801) 355-0850.
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