Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance releases farm stress survey results
The Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance (OAMHA) is releasing the results of a survey created to ensure Ohio’s farmers, families and communities are better equipped to deal with stress.
Anonymously, members of the farming community answered a series of questions related to mental health and agriculture that garnered information related to demographics, farm-related stressors, mental health and well-being, loneliness and social support, and knowledge of and access/barriers to mental health support services. More than 600 people accessed the survey, with 80 Ohio counties having at least one respondent.
Key highlights collected from the survey data show:
• The most common stressors that caused moderate to severe stress were the cost of farm inputs, market prices for crops and livestock, and the cost of farmland.
• Thirty-nine percent of respondents indicated their mental well-being is “Very good or Excellent.” Additionally, 38 percent of respondents indicated that their mental well-being was “Good,” resulting in three out of every four respondents having a positive perception of their overall mental well-being.
• Twenty-three percent of respondents had negative perceptions of their mental well-being.
• Ten percent of respondents were highly affected and reported that mental health conditions or emotional problems kept them from their work and usual activities 14 or more days of the past 30.
• Fifty percent of respondents scored as likely to be experiencing loneliness, with nearly one in five stating that they often feel isolated from others.
• Forty-four percent of the respondents stated that there was a time in the past 12 months when they felt they needed mental or emotional health care or counseling services. Of those, half stated that they did not get the services they needed, and nearly one quarter stated they received some services, but felt they needed more or different services.
• The most frequent commodity respondents worked with were field crops, livestock, poultry, fresh vegetables, fruit, and miscellaneous commodities such as plants, flowers, honey, etc.
The Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance is made up of state agencies and organizations focused on mental health in agriculture. Members include AgCredit, Farm Credit Mid-America, Ohio AgriBusiness Association, Ohio Corn & Wheat, Ohio Farm Bureau, Ohio Department of Agriculture, Ohio Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services, Ohio Suicide Prevention Foundation, and The Ohio State University.
“The work being done within this alliance is helping break down stigmas surrounding mental health and stress in the farming community,” said Ohio Department of Agriculture Director Brian Baldridge. “Farmers are not only an integral part of Ohio’s number one industry, food and agriculture, but we are also humans going through life’s challenges. The insight gathered from this survey will help us determine how we can best support our neighbors.”
“Many promising details emerged from the initial findings of this survey as it shows that the agricultural community is becoming more aware of farm stress and finding positive ways to cope with it but results also tell us there is more work to be done in the space of mental wellness in agriculture,” said Adam Sharp, executive vice president of Ohio Farm Bureau. “This topic is never easy to discuss, but surveys like this one and the additional work of the Ohio Agriculture Mental Health Alliance are making those conversations easier to have, and that will go a long way in making sure rural Ohio has the resources necessary to help those who need it the most.”
Food and agriculture is Ohio’s number-one industry, employing one in every eight Ohioans. Ohio is home to 76,500 farms, covering more than 13 million acres.
The Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and The Ohio State University analyzed the data to compile an executive summary report. Group members will then determine where resources are needed to help ensure support is available to communities in need.
“Farmers are the backbone of our economy and our communities, providing the food and commodities we all depend on, yet many in the agricultural community face unique challenges that can take a toll on their mental health and well-being. The state of Ohio is dedicated to standing by our farmers — not just in times of crisis, but each and every day,” said Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services Director LeeAnne Cornyn.
She added, “The Ohio Agricultural Mental Health Alliance and the Farm Stress Survey are critical in helping us better understand the specific stressors that farmers and their families are facing in Ohio from economic pressures, to isolation, to the impacts of unpredictable weather. By identifying needs and gaps, we can develop a targeted action plan that addresses these challenges head-on and ensures that our farmers and their families have access to the support they deserve.”
“Farm stress is complex and needs many partners to address. These survey results will allow our faculty and staff to work in interdisciplinary teams to address concerns of the farmer and farm family,” said Cathann A. Kress, Ohio State Vice President for Agricultural Administration and Dean of the College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences. “We will support the agricultural community with new resources and tools, while also training non-farm professionals through our Farm Stress Certified program to better understand farmers’ needs.”
Information outlined in the executive summary can be found at https://dam.assets.ohio.gov/image/upload/v1726672449/mha.ohio.gov/learn….
In addition, ODA’s Got Your Back campaign offers information and resources for the agricultural community to help reduce the stigma surrounding mental health.
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline provides residents with one easy to remember number to call when they or someone they know is in crisis. On average, more than 12,000 Ohioans per month who are experiencing or affected by suicidal, mental health, and/or substance use crises have used the lifeline to receive free, 24/7, confidential support and connections to local resources. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988, or visit 988Lifeline.org.
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