By State Sen. HENRY INGWERSEN | Special to the Gazette
March is a funny month. For a few days, the weather was warm, and I was checking my beehives. The bees were buzzing with activity, soaking up the sun.
On Sunday, I watched heavy, wet snowflakes fall from the gray sky. The snow coated the buildings, cars and trees, like moss covering a rock. A taste of spring, a relapse into winter.
No matter the weather, I think about the hardworking men and women who labor in our heritage industries: farming, fishing and logging. The weather, of course, has a real impact on their lives. It creates an expectation that they be adaptable, resilient and tough. And they are.
RELATED | Ingwersen plans to address mental health in heritage industries
But even so, these folks experience significant mental health challenges, exacerbated by physical stress, isolation and the lack of accessible physical and mental health services in Maine’s rural areas. In the words of Monique Coombs from the Maine Coastal Fishermen’s Association:
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“Mental health challenges in these industries don’t always look like crises. More often, they show up as exhaustion, irritability, isolation and a sense that there’s no room to slow down.”
That’s why I am glad that my bill, LD 2144, “Resolve, to Establish the Working Group to Prioritize Wellness and Mental Health Resources for Heritage Industries,” was just signed into law by the Governor. This resolve will create a working group to meet and produce policy recommendations to address the mental health needs of Maine’s farmers, fishermen and loggers.
“Mental health challenges in these industries don’t always look like crises. More often, they show up as exhaustion, irritability, isolation and a sense that there’s no room to slow down.”
— Monique Coombs, Maine Coastal Fishermen’s Assoc.
It will 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.
When I began work on this bill, I thought of Nicole Sargent, the co-owner of Southpaw Packing Company, who has been a dedicated advocate for mental health and wellness for farmers, fishermen and loggers since 2020. Her “Slicing through the Stigma” campaign raised critical awareness at a time when the industry was experiencing extra pressure and stress.
Upon hearing an update on my bill, Nicole wrote to me:
Through my own personal challenges, I have learned how important it is to have support. I have stood by loved ones during their toughest moments, and my advocacy work with ‘Slicing Through the Stigma’ has shown me the urgent need for accessible mental health services in our heritage industries.
— Nicole Sargent
“With LD 2144, ‘Mental Health for Heritage Industries,’ passing unanimously in both the House and Senate and now awaiting the governor’s signature, I pause to take a deep breath, feeling hopeful and optimistic. Through my own personal challenges, I have learned how important it is to have support. I have stood by loved ones during their toughest moments, and my advocacy work with ‘Slicing Through the Stigma’ has shown me the urgent need for accessible mental health services in our heritage industries. Maine’s bipartisan efforts demonstrate how collaboration and unity can lead to meaningful change.”
I take Nicole’s words to heart: Despite the perception of these polarized times, there are still issues that many lawmakers can agree upon. They are capable of casting aside the “D” or the “R” next to their names for the good of everyday, hardworking people. LD 2144 is one example.
In my role as the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee, I strive to put public health and Maine’s health care system first. I believe that we have a duty to take care of people and help them live healthy, fulfilling lives.
The people who grow our food, harvest fish from the sea and build our homes are full of purpose. Without them, we would all suffer. With this bill, we can take action to reduce their suffering, which they experience through no fault or failure of their own – but because of the demands and stress of their labor.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR | Henry Ingwersen represents Maine Senate District 32, which includes the communities of Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis, and Lyman.
In addition to his legislative service, Ingwersen also serves as president of the Arundel Conservation Trust and is a member of the Kennebunk River Remediation Advisory Committee for the town of Arundel. He also serves on the board of Defend Our Health, a group working to ensure all people have access to safe food and drinking water. In the state senate, Ingwersen chairs the Health & Human Services Committee and also serves on the Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. Henry.Ingwersen@legislature.maine.gov or 207-287-1515
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