This is the time of year when many of us get cabin fever—we’re tired of the cold and the short days and the prospect of weeks more of winter, and we just want out! And if we’re pretty resilient, we make it through without that getaway to a sunny beach. But what if we’re stressed, worried, overwhelmed by the threatened economic prospects of our livelihood, and alone? Those of us who live on the Range are rural—we don’t always have community resources at our fingertips, or just down the street. And for those who farm, there’s even more isolation—most farmers up here farm alone. In the depths of winter, that can be tough.
Recent research in the Community Mental Health Journal (2020, 56:126-134) points out that agriculture, in general, has been identified as a stressful industry, and that farming and ranching may actually contribute to poor mental health. For young and beginning farmers especially, factors like limited access to land, capital and affordable healthcare are prominent. Personal finances and time pressures were topics of the most concern for young Midwest farmers in this research. Most work an off-farm job, too. And then there’s the weather, something we think about a lot right now in northern Minnesota.
This study, one of the most recent available on farmer depression, anxiety and stress, found that 71% of young farmers surveyed met the criteria for “generalized anxiety disorder” and 53% met the criteria for “major depressive disorder.” That’s serious stuff for a category of independent farmers who don’t easily call a mental health center for help. A 2019 study of mental health outcomes among farming populations worldwide noted that male farmers in the U.S. experience an increased risk of suicide compared to the general population. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, male farmers, ranchers and other agricultural managers have a suicide rate of 43.2 per 100,000 compared to an overall male suicide rate of 27.4 (https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/84275) A 2020 study in the Journal of Agromedicine (25(3):258-358) addressed the connection of chronic farm stress with high rates of workplace injury and occupational health problems as well.
So, there’s a problem here. Who has stepped in to help? In 2008 Congress approved the “Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Act” to grant funds to states for behavioral health programs for agricultural workers. But they didn’t appropriate any money for the legislation until 2019. And the funds have been slow to reach states. Some states have acted on their own, though, and Minnesota is one of them! In 1993, Tom Mollinar, Dean of Farm Business Management at Ridgewater College in Willmar called the FEMA counselor who was working with flood victims and asked if he could work with farmers. Ted Matthews said yes and it grew from there. Mollinar wrote many grants to get support. And eventually the Minnesota Legislature funded, and the Minnesota Department of Agriculture hired Ted Matthews on contract to provide mental health services to farmers.
Matthews works independently, not inside the bureaucracy that many farmers want to avoid. He is based in Hutchinson and he answers the phone any time of day including weekends. You can reach him at 320-266-2390 and there’s no paperwork required to talk with him. When I talked with him on a 25-degree below day while writing this, he was as passionate as ever about his work. He grew up in northern Minnesota and he loves talking to farmers. Recently, Ted got the MDA to add rural mental health specialist Monica Kramer McConkey. You can reach her at 218-780-7785. Both Matthews and McConkey come from farming backgrounds so they can understand the situation farmers are facing. The Minnesota Department of Agriculture’s website also features a Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline which includes mobile crisis teams. A printable brochure detailing all of the MDA programs to help farmers in stress is located here https://www.mda.state.mn.us/sites/default/files/docs/2020-08/copefarmstressbrochure8-2020.pdf There’s also a collection of radio shows and podcasts about farm stress available at TransFARMation https://www.rrfn.com/transfarmation/
Closer to home, the Miller Dwan Foundation just funded a rural mental health program in Duluth. It was originally targeted to farmers but has expanded to miners and foresters. It’s free and confidential. This program launched in March 2020, the same month that Covid turned our lives upside down. Program coordinator Rich Tunell is available at 218-730-6833 and he will meet you wherever you’re most comfortable or just talk on the phone. Tunell emphasizes that asking for help isn’t about being “mentally ill” but about taking care of your mental health.
Covid 19 is worsening an already difficult situation. According to the Farm Bureau, “A strong majority of farmers/farmworkers say the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their mental health, and more than half say they are personally experiencing more mental health challenges than they were a year ago, according to a new American Farm Bureau poll.” The American Farm Bureau Federation president recently said ““My takeaway from this survey is that the need for support is real and we must not allow lack of access or a ‘too tough to need help’ mentality to stand in the way.”
The stigma associated with asking for mental health services is strong, and it prevents folks from getting the help they need. The National Farmers Union has also become involved. “While farmers experience higher levels of psychological distress and depression than the general population, they are less likely to seek help for mental health issues. Even for those who do seek help, resources may not be readily available, as 60 percent of rural Americans live in areas with mental health professional shortages. Recognizing these immense challenges, National Farmers Union (NFU) is partnering with Farm Credit and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) to help family members, friends, and neighbors address the farm stress crisis in their own communities.” Farmers Union members can learn more about this course at https://www.canr.msu.edu/managing_farm_stress/rural-resiliency-online-course-nfu.
If you’re a farmer in distress, take heart. There are folks who want to help. And the spring equinox is less than a month away!