As markets continue to be volatile, financial issues weigh on the minds of farmers and ranchers, and so worries over stress weigh on their minds as well. In Montana, numerous individuals and organizations across the state are collaborating to provide new resources for farmers and ranchers under stress.

Michelle Grocke, health and wellness specialist, Montana State University Extension, explains that farmers and ranchers in the state are dealing with a range of stresses. Grocke is also an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Health and Human Development.

She says stress can be caused by a range of issues including commodity prices, weather, crop yield and debt load. Those stresses can lead to mental illness, increased risk of suicide and other health issues.

A team of Montanans known as the Montana Farm/Ranch Stress Prevention Advisory Council is working to create a new website to host resources to help farmers, ranchers and other community members better understand how to handle stress. The site is expected to launch this summer.

Grocke says, “Ultimately, we hope these resources will lessen the risk of mental illness and suicide among Montana’s farming and ranching communities.”

Suzanne Stluka, associate director of MSU Extension, adds, “MSU Extension staff began to share tough stories of how chronic stress was impacting agriculture producers. We knew we needed to do something.”

Stress relief team at work

The team at work on the website includes more than 20 members representing a range of disciplines including agriculture, health, tribal affairs, veterans affairs, local government and MSU communities. Project leaders include Grocke; Stluka; and Alison Brennan, MSU Extension mental health specialist and an assistant professor in the MSU Department of Health and Human Development.

In addition to the MSU Department of Health and Human Development and MSU Extension, partner organizations include the Montana Farm Bureau, Custer County Commission, Garfield County Commission, Montana USDA Farm Service Agency, MSU Extension Local Government Center and the Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services.

Grocke notes an important factor of the project: accessibility. Individuals can tap into the resources anywhere there is an internet connection, whether it’s the library or their own homes. The project is funded by a $32,737 grant from the Montana Healthcare Foundation.

Adds Brennan: “There is, in fact, quite a lot of stigma still surrounding discussions about mental health, mental illness, mental disorders and suicide. My hope is that by providing a centralized location for relevant information running the gamut of topics — from plant disease, weather and financial management to stress management techniques to suicide prevention best practices — we can start some crucial conversations about mental health in rural Montana.”

More information is available at msuextension.org/wellness; click on “Stress Management.” To learn more or to offer feedback on the website, contact Grocke at 406-994-4711 or [email protected].

Source: Montana State University, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.