With farmers and ranchers under stress, safety group develops mental health network
Peosta, IA — In response to a variety of stressors that continue to affect farmers and ranchers during the COVID-19 pandemic, the nonprofit AgriSafe Network has developed a mental health initiative intended to distribute resources and training materials aimed at mitigating stress.
“Farmers and ranchers deal with a lot of uncertainty in a good year,” AgriSafe says. “Add to that current low commodity prices, trade wars, extreme weather and now a pandemic. Coping with the stress of everything happening around us is not easy.”
The Center for the Promotion of Health in the New England Workplace identifies multiple potential signs of work-related stress, including:
- Fatigue
- Difficulty concentrating
- Workplace incidents
- Workplace violence
- Anxiety or irritability
- Alcohol or drug use
“Good health, including mental health, is a key factor that contributes to one’s ability to keep farming,” AgriSafe says.
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