Committee supports Sen. Ingwersen bill to promote mental health and wellness in heritage industries
AUGUSTA — On Tuesday, Feb. 3, the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee gave its unanimous, bipartisan support to a bill from Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel. LD 2144, “Resolve, to Establish a Working Group to Prioritize Wellness and Mental Health Resources for Heritage Industries,” seeks to promote mental health and wellness in heritage industries. It would create a working group that will convene and produce policy recommendations to address the mental health needs of Maine’s farmers, fishermen and loggers.
“Heritage industries are the backbone of Maine’s economy and culture,” said Sen. Ingwersen. “These jobs are physically and emotionally demanding over long, hard hours. They also can result in isolation. The lack of physical and mental health resources in rural communities, along with the stigma of seeking help, adds to the complications. My hope is that this working group can dig into these challenges, eventually giving more proactive support to these workers themselves.”
As proposed, the working group would include members from the Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; the Department of Health and Human Services; the Department of Marine Resources; the University of Maine Cooperative Extension; the agriculture industry, the fishing industry; the forestry or logging industry; a statewide mental health services organization; an occupational health and safety organization; an expert in rural public health services; and a statewide organization that delivers community services.
During the work session, the Committee agreed on an additional duty: To examine the impact of a lack of access to primary care services in rural areas, which is where heritage industries are mostly located.
If approved, the working group would produce a report by Dec. 1, 2026. It would authorize the Committee on Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry; the Committee on Health and Human Services; and the Committee on Marine Resources to submit legislation to the 133rd Maine Legislature in 2027.
Recently, the Extension conducted a survey, revealing that 61% of respondents from agriculture, aquaculture, and wild-harvest fisheries identified the need for increased public education to raise awareness and reduce stigma around mental health. Suicide rates remain higher for agriculture, fishing and forestry occupation groups.
In the coming weeks, LD 2144 will face votes in the full Senate and House.
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