Farm Stress, Mental Health, and Mediation and Conflict Resolution-Key Resources for the Agriculture Community

Life is stressful, and farm life can be even more so. The challenges of running a small business with limited resources, where so much is out of your control (weather, markets, pests, disease, etc.) can be overwhelming. Couple that with rural isolation and limited access to resources, and things can reach a crisis point. But you’re not alone and there are resources to help cope and manage some of these stressors.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. To raise awareness around the importance of dealing with issues impacting mental health — from stress to conflict — following are helpful resources available in each Northeast state. Mental health should not be ignored and those who need support should not hesitate to seek it. Together we can fight the stigma sometimes associated with mental health issues.

National / Multi-State

Farm Credit East Customer Assistance Program – Free for Farm Credit East customers, their family members and their employees. Provides assistance and referrals for many of life’s challenges.

www.theeap.com

800-252-4555

Farm Aid – Farmer Services – One-on-one assistance and connections with resources.

www.FarmAid.org

800-327-6243

Cultivemos – The Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network Northeast

www.cultivemos.org

National Suicide Prevention Hotline

www.988lifeline.org

800-273-8255, or 988 in many areas

SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) National Helpline

https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/national-helpline

800-662-4357

Connecticut

AgriStress Helpline for Connecticut – Emergency and non-emergency resources. Peer-to-peer networking, business resources and family resources.

www.ctfarmstressrelief.com

833-897-2474

Maine

Maine Agricultural Mediation Program

https://extension.umaine.edu/agriculture/agricultural-mediation

207-581-3487

Massachusetts

Massachusetts Agricultural Mediation Program

https://www.umb.edu/mopc/projects/agricultural_mediation_program

617-287-4040

New Hampshire

New Hampshire Agricultural Mediation Program

https://emcenter.org/nhamp/

800-511-2213

New Jersey

New Jersey Agricultural Mediation Program

https://www.nj.gov/agriculture/sadc/agmediation/

609-984-2504

New York

New York FarmNet – Free and confidential help with a wide variety of farm issues, including stress and mental health, financial difficulties and more.

www.nyfarmnet.org

800-547-3276.

New York State Agricultural Mediation Program

www.nysamp.com

866-669-7267

Rhode Island

Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance RI

401-414-5465

Center for Mediation Rhode Island

https://cmcri.org/service/agricultural-mediation/

401-273-9999

Vermont

Farm First – Vermont-based program providing farmers with support, resources and information to reduce stress, including peer support and self-assessments.

www.farmfirst.org

802-318-5538

Vermont Agricultural Mediation Program

https://emcenter.org/vtamp/

800-511-2213