R is for Rural and Resilient Webinar Series
What We Have Learned About Agricultural Behavioral Health from the 1980s to the Present Day
Dr. Michael Rosmann
This first-in-a-series webinar examines the economic and social upheaval of the Farm Crisis of the 1980s and compares that era with the present-day strife associated with COVID-19, climate shifts, and federal agriculture policy uncertainties. There are lessons to be learned about how farmers and ranchers can manage stress, their behavioral health, and adapt in a complex socio-economic structure to optimize their production of agricultural commodities: food, fiber, and renewable biofuels. Social disadvantages, such as systemic racism, must be corrected at local, state, national, and international levels because the health and well-being of consumers worldwide depend on a behaviorally healthy and economically sustainable population of diverse agriculture producers who have equitable opportunities to maximize their productivity.
References:
- Behavioral Health Issues of Agricultural People - PDF
- Changes to Farm and Ranche Life on the Horizon - PDF
- Could Farmers be in for a Rouch time - PDF
- Mississippi State Univ. webinar, Nov. 17, 2020 - PDF
- Proper Planning is Needed to Manage Unexpected Stressors in Agriculture This year - PDF
- Uncertainty is Hurting Agricultural Producers - PDF
- Understanding Metal Health is Important to Farmers, Survey Reports - PDF
- Why Do People Farm 2-14-11-1.pdf
- Vimeo link
The Hidden Farm Crisis: Chronic Stress and Mental Health in Rural Communities
Dr. Brittney Schrick
Rural communities often lack access to health services. This barrier, along with cultural expectations of self-sufficiency, isolation, financial strain, and, more recently, the COVID-19 pandemic, has increased stress on communities that were already ill-equipped to cope. In this session, we will discuss these concerns, how the extension system is equipping farmers and their communities, and what we all gain from improved rural community health.
References:
Coping with Stress and the John Henryism Hypothesis
Erin King, MPH, MS
This webinar takes a look at the John Henryism hypothesis, what it means for farmers, and how stress and stress management affect people in rural communities.
References:
Publications
News
To some people, farming is an idyllic way of life, but producers face some unique stressors that can impact their well-being. In fact, a national poll by the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2019 confirmed that about two in five farmers and farm workers reported experiencing increased stress levels and more mental health challenges since 2014.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service PROMISE Initiative has two upcoming sessions in a webinar series that addresses farm stress, mental health and social structural issues affecting farmers and ranchers. The webinars will be held May 18 and June 15 at noon CST. They are part of the ongoing “R is for Rural and Resilient” series that began in November 2020.
Planting season is underway and with it comes the transportation of heavy equipment along Mississippi’s roadways.
Drivers can help support local agricultural producers and their $7.4 billion contribution to the state’s economy by staying alert while sharing the road with planters, tillers and tractor-mounted sprayer
STARKVILLE, Miss. -- Researchers from the Mississippi State University Extension Service are looking to collect row-crop farmers’ feedback on stress related to farming.
The focus group sessions are part of the MSU Extension opioid prevention campaign PReventing Opioid Misuse In the SouthEast, or the PROMISE Initiative.
Participation involves answering a series of questions about farming, stress related to farming and the opioid epidemic. If a row-crop farmer agrees to participate in a focus group, the total time commitment will be two hours.
The Mississippi State University Extension Service PROMISE Initiative will launch a webinar series Nov. 17 about farm stress, mental health and social structural issues affecting farmers and ranchers.
Success Stories
In this "What's New in Extension," Extension agents implement better safety standards, train to deliver Mental Health First Aid, and receive national recognition. Also, new irrigation and specialists join the Extension family.
