UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Penn State Extension recently launched a new podcast — “Farm Stress Real Talk” — that focuses on supporting farmers, farm families and workers in the commercial agriculture industry who are experiencing stress. Listeners now can stream or download all five episodes of the first season. Ginger Fenton, dairy extension educator, noted that podcasts are a convenient resource for farmers. “We know farmers are busy, so we thought a podcast with targeted, practical information would be a good way to reach them,” she said. “Farmers can listen to the podcast while doing chores or operating machinery. The episodes are around 10 minutes to fit into a farmer’s busy day.” 

The Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) is expanding their existing support group network to create online rural mental health support groups that recognize the unique challenges of people in rural America who are living with a mood disorder. These peer-run rural online support groups will offer participants a confidential and supportive setting with support and learnings from others who have lived experience with depression and/or bipolar disorder. Formation of these groups is dependent upon people in rural communities who want to make a difference in the lives of others by volunteering to serve as a rural support group facilitator.  

New funding will allow more medical appointments to take place via video in rural communities, where some of the nation’s oldest and sickest patients live.

The roughly 15 percent of the population living in rural America includes some of the oldest and sickest patients in the country — a disparity that has grown more stark during the coronavirus pandemic. The Biden administration is investing more in telemedicine, whose use has grown sharply during the pandemic, as a way to improve their access to care.

American Farm Bureau works to destigmatize mental health in farming communities with online resource directory.