Carol Anderson, program director of Rural Minds, shares a mental health resource for farmers.
The new Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program from Rural Minds helps farmers recognize the warning signs of a mental health crisis, start conversations, and build resilience.
“The mission of Rural Minds is to really end the stigma, the suffering, and the silence that we know people experience in rural America around mental illness,” she said. “It provides a great opportunity to really begin to provide the information and education and to start the conversation.”
Rural Resources
Anderson knows firsthand the stress farmers face. “I grew up on a farm, and my dad always used to say that farming is a gamble. You put seeds in the ground. You don’t know what the weather’s going to do. You don’t know what kind of pests you’re going to have. You don’t know what the price is going to be at harvest. Anderson said, “There’s just so much pressure that farmers face, even in the best of times, and when things get tough and you’re facing financial challenges, things go through your mind, like, ‘What if I’m the generation that loses the farm?’ It’s really tough, and there’s only so much a human being can handle.”
The Farmer Mental Health Resilience Program, produced in conjunction with the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, is a resource center for farmers and farm families that provides information, education, and background on mental illness.
The site is a hub of information, including localized resources. Videos focus on issues facing farmers and how to address them. The site also offers a free online course on recognizing mental health challenges and preventing suicide in rural communities.
“We provide conversation starters,” Anderson said. “When you’re approaching someone you’re worried about, it’s OK to tell them you’re worried about them or point out they aren’t acting like themselves. But also be the listening ear and let them talk. Research indicates that talk and listening can really make the difference between someone deciding to take their life and someone who decides that there’s more to life and that they need to get help.”
Farmers and Rural Community Members Can Access Free Mental Health Resources
Community Help
The Rural Mental Health Resilience program provides resources to communities. It includes a guide for planning, promoting, and leading community meetings that raise awareness about mental health challenges in rural America.
Anderson suggested using these “meeting in a box” resources to lead a discussion at pork or cattle producer meetings or other events where farmers gather.
“We believe inspiring more conversations around mental health will help reduce the stigma,” she said. “Then, people will be more willing to tell their own stories. They’ll think, ‘It’s OK for me to talk about this. It’s OK for me to not be OK.’”
EDITOR’S TAKE:
Many farmers/ranchers are facing challenges with stress due to financial difficulties through no fault of their own. Yes, government payments do help relieve some of the pressure, but their willingness to reveal that the stress is impacting them may be difficult to admit. Rising input costs, low commodity prices, weather and other risk factors have made it difficult for some to cope. The types of resources mentioned in this article can certainly be of assistance. You may have local resources that can assist as well. If you notice a farmer or rancher being very stressed or nervous, perhaps gently direct them to some of these resources. Maybe you can even post resources in your area on your website or social media posts. Tragically, farmers are more prone to suicide than the general population – help save a life!
