By Mike Zwingman
Mental Health Awareness Month is an opportunity to reflect on the importance of connection and the impact we can have when we truly show up for others. At Verdesian Life Sciences, our work is rooted in helping growers get the most out of every acre. This means understanding their challenges, listening to their needs, and working alongside them to build stronger, more resilient operations. At its core, this work is about relationships, trust, and unlocking potential.
Those same principles guide another important part of my life: my work with The Bridge Behavior Health Services, a trauma-informed treatment center focused on alcoholism, drug addiction recovery, and mental health support. The program serves individuals throughout Nebraska, with clients all over the state. The Bridge is designed to offer resources and guidance to people who often have nowhere else to go—including those who are transitioning out of prison, turned away from other facilities, or without financial means to seek help.
One of the biggest challenges we face is access to care; today, there is typically a three-to-five-week waiting period for a bed in a residential program, and for women, that wait can stretch to six-to-eight weeks. It is exponentially harder for women—especially single mothers—to get the same opportunities in sobriety that men do, which is why reducing barriers and creating more pathways to treatment matters so much. We’re serving people who otherwise may not have an opportunity anywhere else, and we work to treat the whole person by addressing both physical and mental health needs.
My involvement began with a desire to do for another person what someone once did for me. During my own recovery, people reached out and made me realize that I mattered. They helped me see my potential when I couldn’t see it myself. In fact, the first person who ever told me “there’s another way to live” was a fellow agronomist. Now, I try to pass that guidance on.
I began by simply attending meetings and helping where I could; today, I serve as the President of the Board of Directors. As part of this work, I collaborate with clients by sponsoring the Client Engagement Committee, which organizes sober activities like bowling, hockey games, and community events. We also create opportunities for connection through tailgates, shared meals, and outings, while helping meet basic needs through clothing drives, toiletries, books, and meal support. We’re even working on building a raised-bed garden to provide fresh produce—because growth, in every sense, matters.
One thing I’ve learned is that everyone who has a special skill can find a way to give back. Some lead group runs, or volunteer in the day kitchen, which is often the first point of contact for someone who may need help. We also support NARCAN distribution centers, because you never know when you may meet someone in crisis—I carry NARCAN in my pickup for that reason alone.
In both my role at Verdesian and my work at The Bridge, I’ve seen how powerful it is to truly listen. Many of the skills I use as an agronomist, I use at The Bridge: asking questions, getting to know people, understanding their lives and specific problems, and giving them an empathetic ear. Whether I’m working with a grower or sitting down with someone in recovery, the approach is the same: meet people where they are, understand their challenges, and help them find a path forward.
The time I spend with the guys at The Bridge is some of the best time in my week. I’ve watched people get back things they never thought they would have again: jobs, promotions, relationships with families, and a sense of self-worth. Watching “the lights turn on” is something I’ll never forget. Those moments—especially when families come back together—are incredibly powerful because they are not guaranteed. For many struggling with addiction and mental health challenges, that outcome is the exception, not the rule.
That’s why this work matters.
Through The Bridge, I have had the pleasure of meeting wonderful humans with unlimited untapped potential that just need someone to believe in them. Listening to others’ stories is a gentle reminder that most people are one catastrophe away from their lives being completely different. That perspective has shaped how I approach both my work and my life. It’s a reminder to lead with empathy, not judgment.
In rural America and throughout agriculture, we still face a significant lack of access to mental health resources. It can be difficult for farmers to admit they need help, and even harder to find the support when they do. We need to continue addressing the stigma around mental health and substance abuse issues in agriculture. Admitting you are struggling is not a death sentence, and it doesn’t have to define who you are. And help is always there, so long as you know how to ask for it. I’m often reminded of the Mr. Rogers quote: “Always look for the helpers”—but for this to work, we each have to be willing to become one of the helpers ourselves.
At Verdesian, we believe in helping people reach their full potential. I see that same belief come to life at The Bridge every day. And making a difference doesn’t have to be complicated; it can be as simple as donating socks, toiletries, puzzles, or books. It can be showing up, listening, or offering encouragement.
There are also opportunities to support this mission financially. Through the Lincoln Foundation’s $650K match fund, every donation made to The Bridge within the month of May is matched dollar for dollar, helping expand the impact of every contribution.
Addiction and mental health challenges affect individuals, families, workplaces, and entire communities. In agriculture, we understand how interconnected everything is. The same is true here: when one life is restored, the ripple effect reaches far beyond.
This Mental Health Awareness Month, I encourage you to go put your hand out. Not just in the field, but in how we support one another. Whether you’re offering support or seeking it, that first step can change everything. Let people know it’s okay to not be okay, and that help is out there. No one can do it alone; let’s help each other grow.
