Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announces Ag Stress Assistance Program 

Programs for the mental health of farmers and ranchers is being introduced in Utah. Photo courtesy Utah Dept. of Agriculture.

TAYLORSVILLE — Farming is a unique profession it requires hard work, dependence on nature and  global markets. Mental health professionals are concerned about the stress on people who depend on agriculture for a living.

Craig Buttars is serving as Utah’s commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food.

The Utah Department of Agriculture and Food announced their participation in the AgWellness plan in an efforts to provide Utah’s farming, ranching, and rural communities with better access to mental health services, resources, and education,  especially during times of stress.

Studies have shown throughout the U.S., farmers and ranchers are nearly two times more likely to die by suicide compared with the general population.

In Utah, suicide is the 8th leading cause of death with rural areas having higher rates and less access to care; for youth aged 10-24 in Utah, suicide is  the leading cause of death.

Commissioner Craig Buttars said of UDAF said his organization is concerned about how people in Agriculture struggle with and how they handle the stress of their occupation.

“Our agricultural and rural communities face significant challenges that contribute to mental health strain. From long-term drought to volatile commodity markets and increasing operating costs, farmers and ranchers face many stressors on a daily basis that are out of their control,” Buttars said. “We are proud to be able to provide more resources to our communities and hope we are able to make a positive impact.”

USDAF joined with USU Extension AgWellness, to provide education, help, and resources for agricultural producers and their families so that  stress can be managed.

Joshua Dallin, USU Extension AgWellness is seeing the need for farmers and ranchers to develop coping skills for the fluctuations and balance in the agricultural world.

“It’s not a matter of ‘if’ anymore as much as ‘when’ we will each need the skills to be able to help connect someone that we love to mental health resources,” Dallin said. “Having the knowledge to access the right resources is one of the greatest steps we can take to help improve and save lives.”

The Ag Stress Assistance Program will focus on three primary elements:

Mental healthcare reimbursement – free mental healthcare is available to Utah farmers  and their families, with or without insurance, through reimbursement with the provider of  their choice, up to $2,000 per person while funds remain available. Mental health care  treatment includes anxiety, ADD/ADHD, bipolar, depression, grief, insomnia, mood  swings, panic attacks, PTSD, relationship problems, stress, substance abuse, trauma,  etc. In-person and virtual care options are available.

Training for producers across the state – USU AgWellness hosts statewide  workshops to train those involved in agriculture on warning signs and how to help others  in their community. If you work with producers and are interested in hosting a workshop  with USU AgWellness presenters, please email Joshua Dallin at [email protected].

Training for 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline operators – training will be provided for  operators across the state on stressors specific to agriculture in Utah through AgriSafe.

Agriculture is among the top five major industry groups with suicide rates higher than those of the general population. In 2017, nearly 38,000 persons of working age (16-64 years) in the United States died by suicide, representing a 40% increase in less than  two decades.

 

FILE PHOTO: Idaho farming. Photo by Vidar Nordli-Mathisen on Unsplash

Access to healthcare and mental illness prevalence is a significant issue in Utah; according to the 2021 State of Mental Health in America report, Utah ranked 46th out of the 50  states and Washington D.C. for the prevalence of mental illness and access to care.

 

This program was made possible by a $559,605 grant award through the USDA NIFA Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network. For more information about the Ag Stress Assistance Program and to learn how to apply for mental healthcare reimbursement, visit ag.utah.gov/asap or https://extension.usu.edu/agwellness/ .

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