POWERlessness of Rural Areas

The POWERlessness of Rural Areas aims to increase the mental health awareness of people in rural areas. Their miseries are numerous, yet often unspoken and tabooed. The project aims at reducing mental health stigma among rural people, particularly farmers; at developing the guidelines for the effective long-term mental health system for farmers in Slovenia, and at the introduction of the project topics into the working plan of The Slovenian Chamber of Agriculture and Forestry (KGZS) and its educational activities for young farmers.

The project is a participatory one, and aims to exchange knowledge and experience of agricultural advisors, mental health experts and rural people, especially young farmers. The main project activities are designed in the form of eight interactive and educational workshops for agricultural advisors and the rural population. The workshops will take place in the regional units of KGZS throughout Slovenia and their activities are organized, firstly, to increase mental health awareness and, secondly, to establish the guidelines for systemic mental health regulation in rural areas. The project results will be presented to the public and policy makers in 2021 at the international agricultural and food fair AGRA.