SE Illinois News

State Sen. Darren Bailey (R-Louisville) is marking National Farm Safety and Health Week by urging farmers across the state to make sure they’re taking the time to get support for their mental health if needed.

“Taking care of your mental & physical health is critical – especially on the family farm,” Bailey recently tweeted. “We've got a variety of resources to help make sure those in your life stay mentally & physically healthy.”

In spreading his health-conscious message, Bailey is joined by The Illinois Farm Bureau, which recently posted on its website “a healthy farm is nothing without a healthy you. As farmers, we are great at taking care of our land and livestock, but not always great at taking care of ourselves. It’s time to put yourself first.”

Now seeking the GOP nomination for governor, Bailey has recently taken on the job of speaking out on a variety of issues he views as critical to the state’s direction.

When Illinois schools were closed for in-person learning, he charged that Gov. J.B. Pritzker “is destroying education and our children's mental health."

 "We should have fully opened schools a long time ago, but JB is too afraid to stand up and do what's right," he said in a March 16 tweet.

At one point, nearly half of the Chicago Public Schools' two million students were taking remote instruction. Another 700,000 students across the state were receiving lessons through a hybrid approach.

"[Parents] are frustrated at the governing officials and mainly the governor of the state," Bailey said in a recent Fox Business interview. "What they've got to realize is many times a local school board actually holds the authority to do what they need to do and open if they so desire,"

 While arguing that none of the scientific data supported such an approach, he urged more parents to take a stand by considering a run for office within their local school boards to ensure their voices are heard.