BEDFORD COUNTY, Va. – You might think spending time on a farm is a peaceful escape, but for many farmers, it can be stressful, as they work to protect their crop.
Statistics show the job has one of the highest rates of suicide in the country.
Farming is all W.P. Johnson has known. He’s fourth generation growing wheat, soybeans, and a lot of the other foods we eat.
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“We’ve been here since 1910,” farmer W.P. Johnson said. “We’ve been going ever since.”
Johnson said farming isn’t easy work by any means.
#James Donaldson notes: Welcome to the “next chapter” of my life… being a voice and an advocate for #mentalhealthawarenessandsuicideprevention, especially pertaining to our younger generation of students and student-athletes. Getting men to speak up and reach out for help and assistance is one of my passions. Us men need to not suffer in silence or drown our sorrows in alcohol, hang out at bars and strip joints, or get involved with drug use. Having gone through a recent bout of #depression and #suicidalthoughts myself, I realize now, that I can make a huge difference in the lives of so many by sharing my story, and by sharing various resources I come across as I work in this space.#http://bit.ly/JamesMentalHealthArticle Find out more about the work I do on my 501c3 non-profit foundation website www.yourgiftoflife.org Order your copy of James Donaldson’s latest book, #CelebratingYourGiftofLife: From The Verge of Suicide to a Life of Purpose and Joy
“I can’t explain it, but I know that the pressures of what we do trying to make sure that the family meets their goals and take care of that stuff but also meet the demand and the goals of the farm as well as the predecessors before us trying to keep the industry going works on you a lot,” Johnson said.
Factors beyond a farmer’s control like severe weather that causes a financial loss, and isolation from the outside world, are just a few of the stressors that can have devastating effects on farmers. Johnson lost a friend to it.
“They milked for a living, tried to make it, sold out of the dairy business and realized that they couldn’t function because that’s what their life was about and tragically lost his life,” Johnson said.
Farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than others, according to the National Rural Health Association.
There is a resource available for people struggling. AgriSafe launched a helpline specifically for farmers a couple of years ago.
“The people working in Ag deserve to talk to someone who understands those stressors,” AgriSafe Health Communications Officer Laura Siegel said.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text the AgriStress Helpline available 24/7 at 833-897-2474.
“I hope that as future generations come into and things change that the openness piece of it, just being able to talk about it helps out,” Johnson said.
James Donaldson is a Washington State University graduate (’79). After an outstanding basketball career with WSU, he went on to play professional basketball in the NBA with the Seattle Supersonics, San Diego/L.A. Clippers, Dallas Mavericks, New York Knicks, and Utah Jazz. He also played for several teams in the European Leagues in Spain, Italy, and Greece, and he toured with The Harlem Globetrotters to wrap up his career. James was an NBA All-Star in 1988 while playing center for the Dallas Mavericks. In 2006, James was inducted into the Pac-10 Sports Hall of Fame and also the Washington State University Athletic Hall of Fame. In 2010, James was elected as a board member for the NBA Retired Players Association.
James frequently conducts speaking engagements (motivational, inspirational, educational) for organizations, schools, and youth groups.
In 2010, James was the recipient of the NBA Legends of Basketball ABC Award, awarded for outstanding contributions in Athletics–Business–Community.
He believes in being a role model for success and professionalism to the scores of young people to whom he devotes so much of his time. He currently serves on several boards and committees and is a member of many organizations.
James believes in developing relationships that create a “Win-Win” environment for everyone involved, and in being the best he can be!
For more information about James Donaldson or to request he speak at your event, contact him at:
James Donaldson is the author of “Standing Above The Crowd” and “Celebrating Your Gift of Life” and founder of the Your Gift of Life Foundation which focuses on mental health awareness and suicide prevention, especially pertaining to our school aged children and men.
If you’re interested in having James come and speak to your group of young adults, business entrepreneurs, aspiring political and community leaders, and athletic teams, please contact him at jamesd@yourgiftoflife.org and or leave a personal message for him at 1-800-745-3161. Keep up with him and read about how he is reaching out and making a difference in the lives of so many around the world at www.yourgiftoflife.org
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