Farm State of Mind Alliance Launches
The American Farm Bureau Federation is expanding its Farm State of Mind initiative by partnering with the Farm Family Wellness Alliance to form the Farm State of Mind Alliance. The goal is to pull key ag groups together and make mental health support easier for farm families to find.
This builds on earlier work from Farm Foundation and National 4 H Council, which helped bring tools like Togetherall and other assistance services to families nationwide. AFBF President Zippy Duvall says it matters now more than ever, noting “Farmers and ranchers are facing economic uncertainty, the likes of which we haven’t seen in a generation.”
I want to end this by saying: You know what I heard out of what I just said? It's a lot of mumbo-jumbo-mental health this or that I know it can be a lot to navigate. But studies show that about 60% of both farmers and our adolescent children meet the criteria for at least mild depression. That means more of us are struggling than aren't. So grab that phone. You don't have to find every resource, but head to https://www.fb.org/initiative/farm-state-of-mind. Scroll. Click on something that feels right. This is something, you are something, worth taking the time for.
