For Pennsylvania farmers and those in agricultural related businesses a new resource.
As Gary Sinderson reports it’s one of the few of its kind in the nation and is now available that focuses on mental health issues.
In terms of careers that you can be certain is going to filled with uncertainty, farming among those at the top of the list
“There’s stress for farmers,weather the markets, etc, that have been compounded with the pandemic”
Factors in AG related work, that in many cases farmers have little or no control over. Yet seeking mental health counseling not often discussed
“That’s a stigma we have to overcome”
So the State’s Department of Agriculture has recently opened a mental health helpline. Healthcare professionals taking calls have whats termed, agriculture specific training. Its a pilot project, Pennsylvania, one of three states
in the nation , with the helpline program
“We felt it was time to make a concerted effort to do something about it.not just talk about or hope that somebody finds the resources for mental health services or a community program.so we partnered with Agri-stress to make these services available to 160 languages to everybody in agriculture.”
Calls to the Agri-stress help line are free, and its staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
