As I sit at my kitchen table and look at the gray sky filled with snow flurries, I can’t help but think about last weekend when temperatures were hovering around 80 degrees Fahrenheit and I spent most of the weekend doing yard work. It was too warm for this time of the year, for sure, but the blue sky and the chirping birds and the upcoming gardening season made the time fly by. Pulling weeds didn’t seem like a chore, but more like a small treat in that it allowed or required me to be outside immersed in nature. Now as pumpkin soup thaws in the microwave and I’m wearing three layers, it feels more difficult to have energy for the upcoming week and I feel like my mental health is, well, saggy.
Through spring competes with fall as the favorite time of the year for many, it is an unsettled time. Maybe spring’s middle name is unpredictable. Farmers anxiously await for stable weather patterns for the right time to plant spring grains. Ranchers contend with livestock stress caused by unseasonable cold and freezing temperatures, and scheduled brandings that have to be cancelled due to late snowstorms. Unusually prolonged strong winds, pest and disease outbreaks, and increased production costs can all negatively impact our mental health. May is National Mental Health Awareness Month, and this year’s theme is, “More Good Days, Together.” This perfectly aligns with the agricultural community.
According to Mental Health America’s website, “This reflects the heart of our mission: helping people have more good days by meeting them where they are, supporting them as whole people, and understanding that ‘good’ is defined by their unique experiences and goals.” Their website also promotes this refreshing concept: “1 in 5 people experience a mental health condition each year – and 5 in 5 are managing their mental health every day.” This helps break down stigma surrounding mental health. Just as we all navigate physical health and can deal with everything from a cavity to a skin rash to a life-threatening illness, the same is true for mental health.
Their website also tackles a reality that “everyone has good days and hard days with their mental health.” Since it can be challenging to know where to go or how to access help for mental health in rural areas, let’s review some options. First, let’s look at ourselves as our own mental health allies.
Are we helping or hurting ourselves with our daily habits? Do we have good sleep habits? What is in our refrigerators, freezers and pantry – in other words, how do we fill our tanks? What do our hydration habits look like? Are we getting enough exercise to help burn off stress hormones? What tools and how many tools are in our stress management toolkit?
Think about our relationships. Do we take the time to cultivate and nurture those relationships? Who is on our team in not only good times, but in bad times? We all need people to show up and step up when times are hard. Conversely, are we taking the time to check in with others to see how they are doing? Are we there to help them when needed? Can we be considered a rainy-day friend?
We can tap into the professionals in our communities for support and to explore options for managing our mental health. Your healthcare provider can help address all of your healthcare needs, not just the physical ones. Have an honest conversation with him or her. They have dedicated themselves to helping people thrive and succeed. Our pharmacists provide helpful education, medication management, connect us to other resources and can often serve as a first point of contact if we’re not sure where to go. Our clergy are another excellent resource. They help break down stigma surrounding mental health by building community and fostering safe spaces. They can offer a nonjudgmental ear, offer us pastoral counseling and help us get connected to other resources as needed. Mental health counseling is more available now than ever in rural areas, thanks to telehealth options. My counselor colleague and friend Vicki helped ease people’s concerns about seeking counseling. She often said, “Many times people just need to come in for a tune-up. Two or three sessions and they’re good to go.” Your county health department and extension agencies can help offer training such as Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) and Changing Our Mental and Emotional Trajectory (COMET) that help people build skills and confidence in navigating potentially life-saving conversations about mental health. Many states provide free online counseling opportunities for farmers and ranchers; typing in “free online counseling for farmers and ranchers” will most likely show what options exist in your state. In addition, be sure to tap into national hotlines including the AgriStress Helpline at 833-897-2474 and the Farm Aid Hotline at 800-FARM-AID (800-327-6243). You can also call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
Let’s live more good days together.
Darla Tyler-McSherry is the founder and visionary of Ask in Earnest. Visit askinearnest.org for more information on the Ask in Earnest initiative.
This article originally appeared on Farmers Advance: Let’s live more good days together
Reporting by Darla Tyler-McSherry, Farmers’ Advance / Farmers Advance
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