Understanding and Responding to Rural Stress:The Role of Extension and Land-Grant Universities

SeanBrotherson,Ph.D.,ExtensionFamilyScienceSpecialist(NDSUExtension)Dec.11,2018

GeorgiaRuralStressSummit

Farming ranksinthetoptenmoststressfuloccupations

intheUnitedStates.

KeyMessagesonRuralStress•Yourhealthisyourmostimportantasset asafarmer,rancheroragriculturalworker.• Farmerandfarmworkerhealthandsafetyisthemostimportantpriorityinmanaginganyfarmorranchoperation.

KeyMessagesonRuralStress• Increasedstresslevelscannegativelyaffectanddamageone’s:•Physicalhealth•Mentalhealth•Behavioralhealth•Relationalhealth•Occupationalhealth

• Goodstressmanagementisgoodfarmmanagement!

2)RuralStressConditions:What’stheStory?

24% 24% 21% 19%

10%

2% 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

ExpectationsforEconomicConditions

ExpectationsforEconomicConditionsinFarming/RanchinginND- 2017

SignificantlyWorse ModeratelyWorse SlightlyWorseAbouttheSame SlightlyBetter ModeratelyBetter

69%

5% 2%

17% 24% 26% 26%

0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

ExpectationsforStressConditions

ExpectationsforFamilyStressLevelsinFarming/RanchinginND- 2017

SignificantlyDown ModeratelyDownAbouttheSame SlightlyIncreaseModeratelyIncrease SignificantlyIncrease

76%

Why SoMuchStress?v KingKong-sizeSourcesofruralstressvWeather– droughtv Prices – croppricesdropbyathirdtohalfv Other?

NorthDakotaMarketing Year AveragePrice:Range1997-2006andYears2007-2016

Year SpringWheat Soybean Corn

1997-2006 2.76- 4.49 4.05– 6.62 1.59– 2.77

2007 7.45 9.63 4.06

2008 7.19 9.71 3.74

2009 4.90 9.26 3.18

2010 6.78 10.90 5.01

2011 8.17 11.90 5.81

2012 8.19 14.00 6.46

2013 6.50 12.40 3.91

2014 5.42 9.49 3.34

2015 4.59 8.49 3.28

2016 4.57 8.97 3.01

-34% -48%-32%

SpringWheatCostsperAcreRedRiverValley,MNandNDFarmManagementEducation,2002-2016

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

OverheadCash RentOther DirectRepairFuelFertilizerChemicalSeedGross Return

Farmers&Suicide–CurrentKeyIssue

• Attentiontotheissueoffarmstressandsuiciderates amongfarmers– CDCstudy

• “CDCstudysayssuiciderateoffarmershigherthananyotheroccupationalgroup”– August2016• Peopleengagedinagriculture– 84.5per100,000persons(5-8xhigherthanavg.)

• Construction/extraction– 53.3per100X• All– 12.9per100X

• NDSUExtensionnewswork– AgWeek TVinterview

• http://www.agweek.com/news/4431284-agweektv-combatting-farmer-suicide(2minutes)

MediaAttentiontoRuralStress

• Attentiontotheissueof ruralstressandhealthconcerns acrossvariedmediasources• LosAngelesTimes• ChristianScienceMonitor• ThomsonReuters• ChinaUSDaily• WashingtonPost

AgriculturalStressesImpact...v Farm/RanchManagement&Options

v FamilyFinancialSecurity

v IndividualHealthandWell-Being

vFamilyWell-Being

ImplicationsofRuralCrisisPerceptionsforMentalHealthvMostsurveyedattributethecrisistofactorsbeyondtheircontrol (weather,marketprice,farmpolicy).v Factorsbeyondone’scontrolmaycreateasenseofchallengesbeyondresolution.v Resultingfeelings =helplessness,victimization,anger,isolation,depression.vWhatkindofrecipeformental,emotional,behavioralandrelationalhealth?

SupportSources–Whatcanwedo?

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness

3)HowtoAssistThoseDealingwithRuralStressConcerns?

WhyisRuralStressHardonIndividuals?v Individuallevelsofstressarelinkedtohowapersonperceivesthesourceofstress- theirorientationtothestressor.vManypersonsseeitnotasachangeofjob,butasalossofself.vManypracticethe11thCommandmentorientation-“Thoushaltfarm!”(agrarianimperative)

A family is more than an economic unit with needs to be met. A family is a set of individuals bound by love, blood ties, and loyalty across generations. When families are rooted in the context of farming or ranching for their livelihood, then economic crises concern much more than making ends meet. For families who have chosen farming or ranching it is more than a means of making money, it is a generational way of life. Thus, when it comes to the impact of a farming or ranching economic crisis on families and communities, it is about more than making money, it is about the continuance of a generational way of life that is rooted in history.

RespondingtoRuralStress•WillingnesstoSeekAssistance - Doesthefamilyputupbarrierstoseekingassistanceoraccessingavailableresources?Howcanthisbeminimized?Whatstrategieswillencourageoutreach?

EthicofSome...•“Weneedmarketsandprices—notassistance.”

RespondingtoRuralStress•DevelopmentofSocialSupport - Doesthefamilytakestepstobuildsocialsupportbothinternallyandexternally?Howcanthisbefostered?◦Within-familysocialsupport◦Othersourcesofinformalsocialsupport◦Formalsocialsupport

WhereDoFarmersGetSocialSupport?

Extension/Land-GrantUniversitiesandAmericanAgriculture

4) Resources for Responding to Rural Stress

v EducationalLessonPlans– Directtofarm/ranchpopulationsv ThematicResourcePagesOnlineonFarmStress&RelatedIssuesv EducationalResources&Publications–brochures;factsheets;postersets;etc.vProfessionalDevelopmentSeminars–mental&behavioralhealth,etc.v CreativeDeliveryofFarmStressResources

1)EducationalLessonPlans–DirectAwareness&Educationv KeyLessonPlan(NDSUExtension)vManagingStressandPursuingWellnessinTimesofTightMargins

v FourAdditional BriefLessonPlansv Depressionv SuicidevMindfulnessv HowtoReferforAssistance

v AvailablecurrentlyoneXtensionvhttps://campus.extension.org/enrol/index.php?id=1482

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellnessin Times of Tight MarginsSeanBrotherson,Ph.D.,ExtensionFamilyScienceSpecialist

LindyBerg,B.S.,ExtensionAgent

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness in Times of Tight Margins

Brief Lesson 1Understanding Stress

and DepressionSeanBrotherson,Ph.D.,ExtensionFamilyScienceSpecialist

LindyBerg,B.S.,ExtensionAgent

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness in Times of Tight Margins

Brief Lesson 2Understanding Suicide

and DepressionSeanBrotherson,Ph.D.,ExtensionFamilyScienceSpecialist

LindyBerg,B.S.,ExtensionAgent

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness in Times of Tight Margins

Brief Lesson 4What Can I Do to Help?

SeanBrotherson,Ph.D.,ExtensionFamilyScienceSpecialistLindyBerg,B.S.,ExtensionAgent

MichiganState– FarmStressManagementSummit

•TraininginMentalHealthFirstAid• Twodeliverableworkshops• CommunicatingwithFarmersUnderStress

• WeatheringtheStorminAgriculture:HowtoCultivateaProductiveMindset

• SetforJan.24-25,2019

Brainstorming

vWhatothertypesofdirecteducationallessonsorapproaches shouldweexploreforaddressingthetopicofruralstress?

2)LinkstoFurtherInformationOnline- Facilitator

ØNDSUExtension– RelatedWebsitesØ Farm/RanchStressØ https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/farmranchstress

Ø DroughtStressØ https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/drought

ØMentalandBehavioralHealthResourcesØ https://www.ag.ndsu.edu/cff/resources-for-emotional-and-mental-health

• eXtension – ProductionagricultureandStressresourceshttp://articles.extension.org/pages/70313/production-agriculture-and-stress

• LiveYourLifeWellCampaign,MentalHealthAmerica–www.mentalhealthamerica.net/live-your-life-well

• Farms.com– Dr.ValFarmer,“MindOverMatter”videoseries(10videos)–www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL89017F264C488BC5

• CalminTheStormmobilestressapp–http://calminthestormapp.com/

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness

KeyResources–StressandFarming

• Call2-1-1– Statewide24-hourhelpline,healthandhumanservicesinformationandreferral

• Refertoalocalhealth-careproviderormentalhealthprofessional.Ifyouorsomeoneyouknowneedshelp,contactandconnectwithalocalprofessionalsuchasaclergymember,medicalprofessional,lawenforcement,schoolcounselororsocialworker.

• NationalSuicidePreventionLifeline:1-800-273-8255(TALK)

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness

KeyResources– MentalandEmotionalHealth

Brainstorming

vWhatkindofonlineortechnology-basedresourcesshouldweexploreforaddressingthetopicofruralstress?

• “StressManagementSeriesforFarm/RanchFamilies”(FS282,FS283,FS284,FS285,FS286,FS287)

• “FarmingandRanchinginToughTimes”(FS1804)

• “RespondingtoDistressedPeople”(FS1805)• “WorkingWithDistressedClientele”(FS1789)

• Links:www.ag.ndsu.edu/cff/resources-for-emotional-and-mental-health

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness

3)EducationalPublicationsandResourcesonRuralStress

“HowtoCultivateaProductiveMindset”– Mindfulness

41

v ThisFactSheetisontheMSUwebsite:

v www.msue.msu.edu/managingfarmstress

v YoucanprintthePDFforfree.

Whyisstressmanagementusefulfor

farmers?

Videoalsoavailableonthe

www.msue.msu.edu/managingfarmstressUsethevideoandthefactsheettogetherfor

shortpresentationsatmarket

updatemeetings42

PosterSet

Handouts• ChurchBulletins

• CoffeeShops,Cafés

• DisplayHandout

• Etc.

Brainstorming

vWhatothertypesofeducationalresources shouldweexploreforthetopicofruralstress?

4)ProfessionalDevelopmentSeminars–SpreadingtheWord&Partneringv KeyIssuesv Expandingawarenessoffarmstress,mentalandbehavioralhealthresources,andapproachestodealingwithstressconcerns

v TargetAudiencesv Communityleadersv Agriculturalworkersv Communityprofessionals– clergy;healthcareworkers;counselors;mentalhealthprofessionals;lawenforcement;extensionworkers;etc.

NDSUExtension’sResponsetoRuralStress

47

vSummer2016noticethatfarmerswereundermorefinancialstrain,relatedfarmstressesvOfferedManagingFarmStressWebinar– June2017vOfferedBehavioralHealth101Training – Distanceeducation(2016,2017,2018)vOfferedLifeBeyondBreakingEven– FarmStressandEconomicSummit – January2018vAgriculturalExtensionStaffvAgriculturalIndustryStakeholdersvMentalandBehavioralHealthWorkers

NDSUExtension–BehavioralHealth101Training(2016-2018)

NDSUExtension–LifeBeyondBreakingEvenFarmEconomicSummitJan.2018

NationalWebinar–

CommunicatingwithFarmersUnderStress(Dec.2017)

v https://learn.extension.org/events/3209

Online course helps manage stress from farming

WeatheringtheStorm:HowtoHandleStressontheFarm

Thisfreeonlinecourseofferssimpletoolsyoucanusetohandlestressandcultivateaproductivemindset.Learntohelpyourselfandothersbyunderstandingthesignsandsymptomsofchronicstress.Accessthecourseatanytime.Itusuallytakes1to2hourstocomplete– doasmuchoraslittleatonetimeasyoulike.

To find out more details or to register for a class, visit www.msue.msu.edu/onlinefarmstress.

OnlineFarmStressManagementCourse(MSU)

Brainstorming

vWhatothertypesofprofessionaldevelopmentresourcesandapproaches shouldweexploreforaddressingthetopicofruralstress?

5)OtherApproachesforOurToolbox

•Agricultureisafieldthatmakesprogressaspeople:•LearnBestPracticesfromOthers•PracticeInnovationandSustainability•OtherIdeasandApproachesBeingUsedinRuralStressProgramming…

PeerSupportEfforts• FarmertoFarmerDiscussionGroups

• Proactiveemphasisonmarketing,management,integratingwellnessintomanagementpractices

ProgramsataDistance• WellnessCoaching(THRIVEMontana)

• Telehealthoptions

• Podcastseries(SeedsofHealth– NDSUExtensionPilot)

PublicServiceCampaignshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhxddrr5s-I&feature=youtu.be

NewMini-Resource

CoupleRetreats•PlowingNewGroundwasaseriesofintensive3-daytherapeuticretreatsfordistressedfarmcouples

•Averageof10-15couplesperretreatevent,3eventseachyear

•DesignedbyValFarmer,PhD,ruralpsychologistforMeritCareHealthSystems

ProgramDeliveryStrategies•MediaCampaign

•Publications/Newsletters•AudioorVideoMaterials

•ComputerList-Serve&WebPage

•EducationalWorkshops

•TherapeuticRetreats•CommunitySupportGroups

•AreWeThere?

FurtherCreativeIdeas,Approaches,Partners?

v RuralStressisachallengingtopictoaddress– whatothercreativeideas,approaches,orpartners shouldbeconsidered?

SupportSources– Whatcanwedo?

• SeanBrotherson,Ph.D.,ExtensionFamilyLifeSpecialist

• Email:sean.brotherson@ndsu.edu

• 702.231.6143

Managing Stress and Pursuing Wellness

ExtensionResponsetoRuralStress