Farmers and other folks working in agriculture are invited to ‘talk it out’ about mental health via a free, online support platform from the Do More Agriculture Foundation (Do More Ag).
“None of us have to be alone with our thoughts. There is power in connecting with each other, in finding the right support, and it all starts with a conversation,” said Lauren Martin, chair of Do More Ag’s board of directors, in a news release this morning.
AgTalk is an anonymous, free online platform in which people can discuss mental health and find support from their peers. It’s moderated by mental health professionals.
Read Also
Former U.S. agriculture officials, top Republican senator warn of farm country trouble
The chair of the U.S. Senate’s agriculture committee warned on Tuesday that farmers were suffering heavy losses, while more than two dozen former industry leaders sounded the alarm about the risk of a “widespread collapse of American agriculture” ahead of a $12 billion government bailout expected to reach growers this month.
In the news release, Do More Ag said a recent national survey of farmer mental health, led by researcher Andria Jones-Bitton, found that while 58 per cent of farmers meet the criteria for anxiety, and 75 per cent reported mid to high stress levels, 40 per cent are hesitant to seek professional help due to the fear of judgment.
Further research found that mental health stigma and lack of anonymity were the main barriers to producers seeking help.
This highlights the need for open conversation about mental health in agriculture, the organization said.
Do More Ag launched its #TalkItOut campaign today, which will combine social media outreach, advertising and print media, to draw more attention to the issue.
Find the AgTalk platform on Do More Ag’s website.
