Farm Journal’s Pork – How To Recognize The Warning Signs of Stress And Deal With Hard Times In Farming
By Jennifer Shike
PART 1 of 4
From epidemic illnesses impacting pigs to falling commodity prices to increasing farm debt load, many factors cause stress among pig farmers today. Find out how to recognize the warning signs of stress, practical ways to deal with tough times and 3 tips to get your health on track in Farm Journal’s PORK’s new e-book, “Your Guide to Mental Health.”
As National Mental Health Awareness Month draws to a close, check out these 10 articles that tackle mental health and suicide awareness to help reduce the stigma so many experience.
Read the full article - Part I
Part 2: Mental health is broken into four major areas, including depression, anxiety, psychosis and substance abuse.
By Ron Smith
Mental health issues come in numerous guises in rural America as well in urban settings.
The problem, say Shannon Ferrell, professor, Oklahoma State University, Agricultural Economics, and Tiffany Lashmet, Texas AgriLife Extension Agriculture Law specialist, is that folks in rural America are less likely or less able to seek professional help.
They discussed the issues in a recent Ag Law in the Field Podcast, which Lashmet hosts.
She asked Ferrell to talk about the primary mental health issues on the farm.
4 Big Areas
“We have four big areas,” Ferrell said. He breaks them down into depression, anxiety, psychosis, and substance abuse.
“We’re most familiar with depression,” Ferrell said. “Most of us at some point probably experience subclinical depression, just feeling down, a depressed mood.” That’s different from major depression. “Major depression affects sleep habits, eating habits, and possibly withdrawal from relationships. Someone in major depression may suffer physiological or sociological impacts.”
Read the full article - Part 2
Part 3: Intervention key to mental health issue: There's hope and help.
By Ron Smith
Depression and anxiety are the most common mental health issues in rural America, says Shannon Ferrell, Oklahoma State University Extension associate professor of economics. “We’re fairly good at recognizing depression,” Ferrell said during a recent Ag Law in the Field podcast, hosted by Tiffany Lashmet, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension ag law specialist.
“What do we look for if we think somebody might be having suicidal ideations?” Lashmet asked. “And what can we do to try to help folks in trouble?"
Ferrell said if a neighbor, friend, or other observer notices someone is not at the level of suicidal ideation but is withdrawing or just doesn't seem to be themselves, intervention could help.
“One thing to remember about depression is that it thrives on isolation. In isolation, people get in trouble because they get themselves into a cycle and start to believe things about themselves that might not be true.”
The key, he said, is addressing the isolation. “If someone is dealing with depression, engage with them. Tell them that you’ve noticed that they seem a little bit down. Ask if they want to talk about it. Let them know that you’re there for them.
Read the full article - Part 3
Part 4: Resources available for rural mental health assistance
Southwest universities and other entities provide online mental health training and coping strategies. There's hope and help.
By Ron Smith
Farmers and other residents of rural America may have limited resources for mental health crises, but they do have options.
Tiffany Lashmet, Agricultural Law Specialist with Texas AgriLife Extension, and Shannon Ferrell, Professor of Agricultural Economics, Oklahoma State University, looked at some of those resources during a recent Ag Law in the Field podcast, hosted by Lashmet.
“Extension has been developing resources for folks who are trying to help people with mental health issues,” Lashmet said. “We want to help people educate themselves to be prepared if mental health issues arise. They want to know what to do. Shannon, talk about some of the resources available.”
Ferrell said several online resources are available from Oklahoma State and other providers.
“The pandemic shoved forward a lot of online mental health resources for rural America,” Ferrell said.