EDUCATING THE PUBLIC REGARDING DIET/NUTRITION AND MENTAL HEALTH ARE IMPORTANT COMPONENTS OF COOPERATIVE EXTENSION EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS; HOWEVER, THERE IS CURRENTLY NO RESEARCH OR EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS THAT ARE FOCUSED ON THE INTERSECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DIET/NUTRITION ISSUES IN THE WESTERN REGION. THE PRESENT PROPOSAL AIMS TO CLOSE THAT GAP BY BRINGING TOGETHER COMMUNITIES, EXTENSION SPECIALISTS, AND ACADEMICS FROM MENTAL HEALTH AND DIET/NUTRITION DISCIPLINES TO FACILITATE COLLABORATIVE WORK TO ADDRESS THE INTERSECTION OF MENTAL HEALTH AND DIET/NUTRITION. THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE WILL CONVENE THE INITIAL WESTERN REGION MENTAL HEALTH NUTRITION NETWORK, COMPRISED OF REPRESENTATIVES FROM LAND-GRANT INSTITUTIONS IN THE WESTERN REGION TO FACILITATE COLLABORATIVE WORK ADDRESSING DIET QUALITY AND FOOD ACCESS TO IMPROVE MENTAL HEALTH OUTCOMES ACROSS THE LIFESPAN. THE PRESENT PROPOSAL ALIGNS WITH THE AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD RESEARCH INITIATIVE FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, AND HEALTH PRIORITY AREA, AND WITHIN THIS PRIORITY, AREAS OF DIET, NUTRITION, AND THE PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES. THE US AGRICULTURE AND FOOD SYSTEMS DEPEND ON A HEALTHY, BOTH PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY, AGRICULTURAL WORKFORCE. THE PRESENT PROJECT HAS THE POTENTIAL TO UNITE NUTRITION AND MENTAL HEALTH RELATED DISCIPLINES TO MITIGATE THE MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS AND IMPROVE HEALTHY LIFESTYLES FOR WESTERN REGION AGRICULTURAL WORKERS, AND ALL RESIDENTS IN THE WESTERN REGION.