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AJ Taylor4 hours agoLast Updated: May 24, 2021
Families who make their living on farms often are exposed to situations beyond their control, causing them to experience exhaustion and distress. At any time, unstable prices, weather, crop or livestock disease, or equipment and communication breakdowns may make the reality of farm living difficult to deal with.
“May is Mental Health Awareness Month,” said Tim Christensen, farm management specialist with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach. “Farm stress certainly may affect mental health and it’s OK to acknowledge the stress you may be facing.”
Farm stress compounds already tough farm decision making, as high levels of prolonged or acute stress inhibit concentration, planning, calculation, and many skills that are necessary for the profitable management of a farm and the healthy functioning of the farm family, Christensen noted.
Depression, anxiety, and suicide are more prevalent among agricultural populations than the general public.
A lot of people work tough jobs where they don’t have much control. But instead of merely being annoyed by a Lumberghian boss, imagine your livelihood was at the mercy of the weather and global trade wars.
That’s farming. And it’s stressful. So much of what farmers experience is completely out of their control.
Josie Rudolphi
A new online resource, FarmStress.org, aims to help farmers manage stress, anxiety, depression, or substance use issues. It’s a project of the North Central Farm and Ranch Assistance Center, a 12-state collaborative based at the University of Illinois that is funded by the USDA via the Farm Bill.
May 12, 2021 | 7:29 AM
(CHAMPAIGN) Midwestern farmers, their families, and all agricultural workers now have direct access to a new tool to help manage stress, anxiety, depression, or substance use issues. The newly launched website, at farmstress.org is aimed at providing the agricultural community with resources and support provided through the North Central Farm and Ranch Assistance Center. The website has resources by state and topic, with crisis numbers, telephone hotlines, and training help, although officials make it clear that the website is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, and/or treatment. The NCF&R Assistance Center is a 12-state collaborative effort based at the University of Illinois. It includes Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, North & South Dakota, Nebraska, and Wisconsin.