🧑‍⚕️Fielding Wellness: Breaking Ground on Rural Mental Health

A farm can’t operate without its farmer. That’s why new initiatives are underway to help keep the farmer and rancher on the farm and ranch.

Fostering support: At the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (AFBF) 105th annual convention in Salt Lake City, President Zippy Duvall announced a peer-to-peer platform where members everywhere can anonymously share their struggles. It’s part of an ongoing effort to lessen mental health stigma in the agriculture industry and provide resources to help.

Collaborations for health: The free online service is a partnership with Farm Family Wellness Alliance and uses the Togetherall platform to allow everyone 16 and older a place to connect with others while being moderated by licensed and registered mental health clinicians.

Soundbite: “Farming is tough even on the best days. That’s why Farm Bureau has been committed to helping farmers and ranchers across the country get connected with the tools and resources they need to promote mental health and wellbeing—and to check in on their friends, neighbors, and loved ones. Togetherall will help us all to do just that.” — AFBF President Zippy Duvall

Breaking the silence: Farm Bureau is also partnering with Huntsman Mental Health Institute and the Ad Council for a series of PSAs to be broadcast nationally. The Ad Council’s research shows 63% of adults living in rural areas have a mental health condition, but only one-third reach out for help.