How regional organizations are helping one of the most stressed segments of the workforce
By Deborah Jeanne Sergeant
Change is the only constant in farming: costs, prices, weather, pests, soil and animal health, equipment and infrastructure.
All of these can change in a moment and devastate a farm.
For farm families, it’s more than a business loss if a farm folds. Most consider farming their way of life. The whole family is involved in the effort to an extent. For many, it’s their heritage and home. Losing the farm means a complete lifestyle disruption.
Farming is also inherently dangerous. A single mistake can mean dismemberment, disability or death. The Bureau of Labor Statistics lists farming as one of the most dangerous occupations, and those who tend livestock have the third-highest rate of employment related death—that’s 15 times the rate for a typical job. And it’s likely the rate is even higher than reported because farms with fewer than 11 workers and self-employed farmers do not have to complete the Bureau’s annual survey.
In addition to the dangers involved with large animals, farmers often face hazardous conditions while working with large equipment, chemicals, manure storage fumes that can displace oxygen in a confined space, and feed storage facilities that can entrap them, burying them alive.
In the metaphorical sense, farmers may feel “buried” on the farm.
Farmwork can often feel isolating, as can the lifestyle. The rural location can limit access to mental health services as well as stigma about seeking help. A largely masculine workforce on farms means “manning up” to deal with mental health rather than seeking professional help.
“Sadly, farmers have much higher rates of depression, anxiety, and suicide than workers in other professions, and we know that to sustain a thriving agricultural sector throughout New York State, we must address the growing mental health crisis facing farmers,” said Adam C. Howell, outreach director for NY FarmNet at Cornell University’s Charles H. Dyson School of Applied Economics & Management.
NY FarmNet provides free, confidential consulting that involves both a farm-agribusiness financial expert and a social worker who specializes in working with farmers, since financial stressors are a leading reason for mental health issues on farms. The organization produces a variety of educational opportunities throughout the state to train rural and agricultural audiences on topics including Talk Saves Lives Suicide Prevention and Awareness or Stress Management.
As another resource, Rural Minds, based in Mayville, launched a free online course “Mental Health and Suicide Prevention in Rural America,” to give learners practical support strategies and resources to navigate mental health challenges in rural communities.
“Rural Minds is the only national 501(c)(3) nonprofit that provides free information, including the connections webinar series, the “Moving Forward” newsletter, a blog, and several programs in collaboration with partner organizations such as Cornell University, NY FarmNet, the National Grange, and more–along with resources to confront rural mental health challenges and the stigma that surrounds mental illness,” said Jeff Winton, founder and chairman of Rural Minds, New York dairy farmer, and resident of Mayville. “Recognizing that farmers and others in rural communities are self-reliant with a ‘do-it-yourself mindset,’ the Rural Minds website at www.RuralMinds.org provides culturally-relevant information that’s needed to be part of the solution to improving rural mental health.”
Challenges to Rural Mental Healthcare
Jeff Winton, founder and chairman of Rural Minds, offered a few statistics regarding the challenges to rural mental healthcare, including the difficulty in getting an appointment with limited availability of mental health professionals.
• 20% fewer primary care providers than in cities
• A lack of psychiatrists in 65% of rural counties
• A lack of psychiatric nurse practitioners in 81% of rural counties
• 47% of rural counties lack a psychologist
• Unreliable, expensive, or nonexistent internet service for online video or telehealth appointments, as nearly 30% of rural homes lack of access to broadband internet
• Time and transportation required for long-distance travel to meet with a mental health professional
• Lack of medical insurance to cover mental healthcare
• Self-imposed barrier of asking for help when taught to pursue self-reliance as a virtue
• Hesitant to ask for help because of fear of being considered weak/incompetent
• Lack of trust to maintain confidentiality in a small, close-knit community
