It’s the end of the growing season. Crops are in the bins. Money is in the bank. Tax receipts are piling up. All are signs of another successful year on the farm.
And yet, there’s a melancholy as holiday music cranks up. It’s hard to put your finger on it, but maybe it’s time to do some year-end planning that includes a mental health checkup.
MU Extension provides mental health programs to help farmers, ranchers and their families cope with stress. It offers resources to promote rural mental health awareness and free telehealth counseling sessions by a trusted, ag-friendly professional. Resources and services are also provided to veteran farmers by the Governor’s Challenge to Prevent Suicide among Service Members, Veterans and their Families.
Before the year end, set aside a day for yourself and assess your feelings. Just like you would plan what seed and chemicals you need next year, plan how to improve your mental health for the year ahead. You wouldn’t let your machinery go without a winter checkup, so do the same for yourself. Know the behavioral signs of stress that may manifest in physical symptoms: weight loss or gain, changes in appetite, stomach or gastrointestinal problems, poor sleep, clenching or grinding of teeth, chest pain and poor hygiene.
Behavioral signs of stress include loss of interest in things you used to enjoy, wanting to withdraw from people and activities, poor concentration, confusion, forgetfulness, uncertainty or trouble making decisions, relationship problems, feeling anxious or irritable, change in personality, negative thinking and increased smoking or drinking.
Physical signs may be more noticeable but often develop gradually. Physical symptoms include difficulty breathing, fatigue, body aches and rising blood pressure. Slow down, take breaks, exercise and get a physical checkup if you feel stressed. And reach out to friends, family, clergy or medical professionals.
Knowing which tools are available is an excellent first step in dealing with feelings of stress and anxiety. Everyone experiences — and manages — stress in different ways. If self-care strategies don’t work, contact loved ones or an online therapist for additional support. MU Extension coordinates with the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center and the Missouri Department of Agriculture to provide resources through USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grants. Farmers, ranchers and immediate family members can receive free, confidential teletherapy. Consider telehealth counseling as a convenient, confidential option.
The “Cheers” theme, “Where Everybody Knows Your Name,” brings comfort to some but discomfort to others. The unfortunate stigma attached to mental health treatment might keep some from seeking help in a small town, where “everybody knows your name” or, as likely, “everybody knows your truck.”
The jingle is part of why telehealth is growing in popularity as a treatment option for rural Missourians seeking mental health help. Telehealth offers convenience and anonymity.
Telehealth encompasses health care, including counseling services delivered remotely, reducing or eliminating the need to travel. Telehealth brings health care to you through a cellphone or the internet, regardless of where you live.
Missouri has the most significant shortage of providers in the U.S., according to “Growing Stress on the Farm,” published in 2020 by the Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Hospital Association and MU Extension. Each of Missouri’s 99 rural counties is a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area. Telehealth gives rural residents more choices in health care providers. It also may reduce the need to take time off work or obtain childcare, saving patients money and time.
Telehealth may not be for everyone, but it provides a valuable option for many. It may not feel safe or comfortable at first, but with some preparation, it can be a convenient tool to improve your mental health once you learn a few simple things so you can use a
smartphone, tablet or computer with internet services.
Not all telehealth services require a computer. It would be best if you prepared in advance, but your health care provider will help you learn how to access services. MU Health Care has tips to prepare for a telehealth visit at https://www.muhealth.org/yourvisit/convenient-care/telehealth. Each provider may have different methods, so ask before your visit.
Mental health programs offer many resources to help farmers, ranchers and their families.
If the end of the growing season is causing concern, resources are available to help. MU Extension coordinates with the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center and the Missouri Department of Agriculture to provide resources through USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) grants. These resources include free telehealth sessions for farmers, ranchers and immediate family members. To request free teletherapy counseling, visit www.muext.us/PSCFarmRanch, email adpsc@missouri.edu or call 573-882-4677.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture’s AgriStress Helpline also offers free, confidential help to farmers and their families. Producers can call or text 833-897-2474 to speak to a healthcare professional. The helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Learn more at agriculture.mo.gov/stress.php. NIFA awarded the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network grant to MDA to support the distribution of mental health resources and training through MU Extension.
Through a North Central Region Farm and Ranch Assistance Network federal grant, MU Extension is part of Iowa Concern, providing stress counselors and attorneys for legal education, information and referral services for farm families. The toll-free number is 800-447-1985.
The 24-hour National Suicide & Crisis Life-line provides free, confidential services. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 or go to 988lifeline.org. Find other resources in the MU Extension and Show-Me Farm Safety Mental Health Toolkit at muext.us/MHtoolkit.
As we near the end of this growing season, make the best decisions by being kind to yourself. Recognize your triggers to help you prepare for stressful situations so you can take steps to avoid or cope with stress.It’s OK not to be OK, and it’s OK to ask for help.
