Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance releases Farm Stress Survey results

The senior director of communications and media relations at Ohio Farm Bureau says a recent survey measured stress levels and coping strategies in farmers.

Ty Higgins says the Mental Health Alliance was formed to help farmers through tough times.

"We knew about the the stressors and some of the coping mechanisms already since we live in the community," he says. "We got the Ohio Department of Health and the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services involved, those mental health professionals to come in and help us kind of break through the stigma that we're seeing and and is still very strong in."

Ohio State Extension ag safety and health specialist Dee Jepsen says the survey looked at key stressors.

"About 44% of those farmers said that in the last 12 months they felt that they needed mental or emotional healthcare or counseling," she says. "71% of these people also said that they can respond to stressful events with resilience."

Higgins tells Brownfield the organization is working on future surveys.

"We understand the problem and we're finding solutions and so we're going to continue doing that as we go," he says. "Finding the resources, finding those sticking points to get farmers from point A to point B where they need that."

The Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance is made up of state agencies and organizations focused on mental health in agriculture.

If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or visit 988Lifeline.org. Additional mental health resources are available online here.