Do you notice a family member, friend or neighbor who is “not themselves” lately? Feel unsure of how to check in with them?

COMET™ is a short, two-hour program offered by UW – Madison Division of Extension educators for the agricultural and rural communities in Wisconsin. The program can be offered in-person as a standalone workshop, attached to a larger conference, or on a virtual platform. The maximum number of participants for any of these formats is 30. The program is a gentle introduction to supporting friends and neighbors in a vulnerable space to help them shift their mental health trajectory back to a place of wellness and away from the path of a mental health crisis. This program was developed by the High Plains Research Network Community Advisory Council specifically for rural communities.   

Observation is a skill that many farmers may not realize they have. It is ingrained in their daily work lives. From noticing a sick animal before it has a fever to an early sign of insects on a crop, these early observations can lead to early treatment and better outcomes. Farmers cans use this same skill to notice when their friends, family, neighbors, or employees are not themselves.

COMET™ helps people take the next step after noticing someone might be struggling. It empowers friends and neighbors to be more prepared to support others’ mental health needs – especially before a crisis. This training empowers people to feel comfortable initiating a supportive but potentially emotional conversation using a conversational seven-question guide. It provides an easy way to start a conversation, teaches you how to exit the conversation in a supportive way, and offers resources to share with others if they need more than a listening ear.

Why COMET™?
Multiple challenges face rural communities in accessing mental health. Existing resources and trainings often focus on crisis needs and immediate suicide risk. However, many people suffer from distress and moderate depression or anxiety, sometimes acutely and/or undiagnosed, that significantly impact their health and well-being. COMET™ fills that gap in resources for people in this vulnerable space and aims to prevent crisis.