Eva Longoria to help with farmworkers mental health project

Details: Justice for Migrant Women president Mónica Ramírez and Longoria and her foundation created "Healing Voices" with the goal of finding ways to provide 3 million farmworkers mental health services amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Ramírez said farmworkers have been deemed essential workers and have put their lives on the line to keep feeding other U.S. residents.
• The program will examine a small selection of farmworkers with the goal of convincing the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration to strengthen regulations against emotional abuse faced by farmworkers.

What they're saying: “The pandemic has created or worsened mental health challenges for people across the country. That includes our farmworkers, who have gone to work in the fields every day — often in unsafe conditions — to ensure the rest of us have food on the table,” Longoria said.

• "Our work to prioritize their mental and emotional well-being is just one step in addressing the ongoing lack of health and social services available to farmworkers.”

• Ramírez said most of the participants in the study are Latino, mainly Mexican Americans.

The big picture: A poll released in December by the American Farm Bureau showed that 66% (2 out of 3) farmers/farmworkers say the pandemic has affected their mental health. 

What's: Organizers hope to broaden the program across the country, using the same curriculum to help farmworkers with mental health.