By Sara Arthurs –
Photo by Kat Jayne on Pexels.com
By SARA ARTHURS
Staff Writer
This year’s farming season has been very difficult, and organizations at the state level want farmers who are struggling to know that #mentalhealth help is available.
Bobbie Boyer, deputy director of prevention services for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, said she sometimes meets with people who live in cities who are not aware of the stress that Ohio farmers are under.
She encourages neighbors, friends and family members to check in on farmers.
#JamesDonaldson
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 oe 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
In general, farmers are people who emphasize being self-sufficient and keeping things to themselves, or to “make things work on their own” rather than seeking help, said Dr. Justin Trevino, medical director for the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.
And farming involves isolation, he said, so for those who do want to seek out #mentalhealthcare, the options are fewer.
A 2018 study by the Department of Health and Human Services reported that 53% of rural areas were designated as having a shortage of #mentalhealthprofessionals, Trevino said.
In addition, people who live in the country are more likely to own firearms, which are often used as a means of #suicide, Trevino said. Aging white males are known to be at a higher risk of #suicide in general, and farmers tend to be older and #male, he said.
Trevino said experts know chronic stress can make a person predisposed to developing #depression. Sadness or feeling down for a short period of time can be just a normal part of life, but biological #depression is more sustained, and the person may lose hope, not sleep or eat well, and be very unhappy all the time, he said.
Trevino noted that another issue is “farming as an identity — when farmers are struggling financially, they can see themselves as ‘failures.’”
At the state level, Ohio’s Department of Agriculture and Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services have teamed up to make resources available for farmers. OSU Extension offices and farm bureaus have also been part of this effort.
The Mental Health and Recovery Services Board of Seneca, Sandusky & Wyandot Counties recently provided information and outreach to farmers at the Seneca County Fair. Deputy Director Robin Reaves said people were grateful for the support.
“Being that we are a rural community, we struggle with #stigma,” she said in an email. “There is still a hesitation that exists in our community with people asking for help and with feeling comfortable with talking about one’s #mentalhealth status and needs.”
And, she said, farmers are part of a long history “where it was not OK to talk about #mentalhealth or to seek treatment. We hope that our efforts help people feel more comfortable about having these conversations and using the available resources.”
Reaves said her staff also wants to reach out to professionals who work with farmers, like loan officers or insurance agents.
“They are witnesses to the impact this season is having on farmers and they at times have to be deliverers of unfortunate financial news, and we want to give them the tools and resources that can be helpful during these conversations,” she said.
The Hancock County ADAMHS board plans a similar effort at the upcoming Hancock County Fair. Executive Director Precia Stuby said in addition to the isolation of farming, there is the stress that comes with the volatility of the profession.
“Everything can look great, and then you can have a hailstorm and everything can be gone,” Stuby said.
Also, she said, a farm may be passed down from generation to generation, so there is a feeling that if things don’t go well, you are letting your family down.
Stuby said some #farmers have fared better than others this year, but it’s important not to “blame or shame” others or to say, if only “you had done it THIS way.” Instead, “We just need to reinforce that everybody has done their best.”
Ginny Williams, the Family Resource Center’s chief clinical officer, said people think of “grief” and “loss” as having to do with a death or a divorce. But what farmers face involves a sense of “loss of identity,” or a loss of the farmers’ “hopes, dreams and expectations.”
And, as most farmers are men, some may see it as “a challenge to their masculinity” to reach out and ask for help, though “we certainly know that’s not true.”
While a farmer may “intellectually have that understanding” to realize they cannot control the weather, they may still feel angry, disappointed or scared, Williams said.
Family Resource Center will be offering an eight-week course on the “grief recovery method” from 6-8 p.m. Mondays beginning Sept. 23. It’s free to attend, and participants should commit to all eight weeks. To register, contact Family Resource Center at 419-422-8616.
Boyer said farmers’ spouses and children also must be considered, as “the stress is on the whole family.”
She said resources include “Man Therapy,” an online mental health resource geared toward men, as well as the online series “Cultivating Resiliency for Women in Agriculture.”
Boyer also recommended “Mental Health First Aid” or “Question, Persuade, Refer,” both trainings in which a person can learn how to respond to someone else in a crisis, similar to CPR. (For information on local classes, contact Focus at 419-423-5071 or the ADAMHS board at 419-424-1985.)
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com
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:
www.StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
JamesD@StandingAboveTheCrowd.com
1-800-745-3161 (voicemail & fax)
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
