Cortez Launches A Mental Health Forum Built for Horse People

Cortez and Montezuma County have seen a number of rancher and farmer suicides over the last five years; in fact, Cortez community radio station KSJD reported extensively about the issue in May 2021. One local woman wanted to help address the concern head on by creating a mental health forum for horse people in particular; this harder-to-reach group has sometimes found it difficult to access the right resources and vernacular for mental health concerns. Inspired by the success of programs like the Indigenous Wellbriety Program, the mental health forum aims to create talking circles, resource sharing, and discussions with people who understand each other. Best Horse Practices Summit volunteer Maddy Butcher reached out to LOR for help putting it all together after hearing about the foundation’s work from a local school employee. The forum will be staffed by therapists but created and informed by the attendees themselves. LOR’s funding will help support the professional services and supplies required to create the forum.