Farming: A Stressful LifeSouthern Lorain County is largely rural with lush, extensive farmlands. This is the area served by THRIVE! Southern Lorain County.
According to the Mental Health, Addiction & Recovery Services Board of Lorain County (MHARS, a THRIVE! Partner), suicides among farmers are 1.5 times higher than the national average. The rate could be higher because some farm suicides can be masked as farm-related accidents, claims the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Farmers are vulnerable to several major stresses, including the ups-and-down of weather and the long hours of working alone. These can impact the well-being of the entire farm family. |
A vintage photo of a farmer
|
There are several resources that farming families can turn to for help:
|
MHARS
https://mharslc.org/helpful-information-2/helpful-information-for-rural-and-agricultural-communities/ Crisis Hotline: 1-800-888-6161 The MHARS Board provides free Question Persuade Refer (QPR) basic suicide prevention education specifically designed for Lorain County farmers or people living in rural parts of the county, upon request, at 440-787-2071. |
|
Ohio Department of Agriculture
https://agri.ohio.gov/ The Ohio Department of Agriculture launched “Got Your Back,” a program designed to connect farmers around the state with mental health resources in their area, and help combat the stigma that surrounds the issue. |
|
|
Farm Aid
www.farmaid.org https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/resources-for-farmers/online-request-for-assistance-form/ Farmer Hotline: 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243). Farm Aid staff are available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET; 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. PT. If you are in crisis, experiencing unmanageable stress, or considering suicide and need to talk to someone directly, Farm Aid is there to listen. Whether you have been farming for a few years or decades, your call is welcome; you will be pointed in the right direction. |
|
988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, Open 24/7
The new (launched in July 2022) 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a national network of more than 200 crisis centers that helps thousands of people overcome crisis situations every day. The centers are supported by local and state sources, as well as the Department of Health and Human Services’ Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). All calls and text messages to “988” route to a 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline call center. |
|