BATON ROUGE — Southern University Ag Center has reopened enrollment for its free virtual counseling program for Louisiana adults in rural and underserved communities.

According to the Southern University Ag Center, the Rural Connections for Rural Resilience program offers up to eight free virtual counseling sessions with licensed mental health professionals. The program is open to Louisiana residents ages 18 and older.

The Ag Center says the program aims to reduce barriers to mental health care with confidential support by phone, video or help from its Mobile Tech Unit. It also says the services come through a collaboration with Positive Transformation Health Services.

According to the National Rural Health Association, suicide rates are roughly 40 percent to nearly 50 percent higher in rural areas than in urban areas. The program will run through July 31, 2027.

Registration is available at https://form.jotform.com/252524937687067.