Rural mental health is a topic of concern for many across the U.S.—from farm organizations to lawmakers — given the farm low prices, weather extremes and uncertain markets that farmers and their families have faced for several years.

These factors have raised stress and anxiety levels among rural communities, impacting the mental health of many.

The availability, accessibility, and affordability of mental health resources and support is a particular challenge for people in agriculture. Accordingly, awareness of potential resources is a critical component for addressing stress and improving resilience in these communities.

To mark May as Mental Health Month, several U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers are collaborating to offer weekly online mental health resources and information that are specific for farmers and rural communities.

“There is no single solution in combating stress and mental health problems brought on by forces largely out of the control of farmers and farm workers,” says Bruce Alexander, professor at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health and director of the Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center. “However, sharing information, starting conversations and building partnerships to improve our community response is incredibly important.

“We believe the more people have access to information and have conversations with their families, friends and co-workers, and in cafes, community centers and places of worship, the better equipped they will be to help someone in need and guide them to the right resources.”

The mental health information campaign began April 29 and runs through May 26.

Topics include:

• Week 1. Science of Stress and Suicide Risk
• Week 2. Referral Resources
• Week 3. Coping with Substance Abuse/Opioids
• Week 4. Cultivating Resiliency
• Week 5. Break the Stigma

A special webinar, “Suicide and the agriculture way of life: What you need to know,” is scheduled for May 10 at noon. The webinar will help participants identify the risk and protective factors that farmers face related to suicide; provide tools and strategies to identify if someone is at risk and how to ask difficult questions; and where to access resources to get additional support. The webinar will last approximately 40 to 45 minutes and then offer a Q&A period at the end.

The presenter will be Shauna Reitmeier, who has more than two decades of experience in the behavioral healthcare and cognitive disabilities fields. She currently serves as CEO of the Northwestern Mental Health Center, which offers healthcare services to adults, children and families across six rural counties of northwest Minnesota.

Those interested in attending can register for the seminar online.

Learn more about mental health challenges, such as suicide and depression, in Farm Progress stories that have previously appeared online:

"Farm stress challenges mental health"
"All the land between happy and sad"
"Why do farmers commit suicide?"
"10 truths about how farm families talk"

The U.S. Agricultural Safety and Health Centers (www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/agctrhom.html) are funded by the National Institute for Occupational Health and Safety.

For more information about Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center and the mental health campaign, visit umash.umn.edu.

In Minnesota, farmers can call the Minnesota Farm and Rural Helpline at 1-833-600-2670.