Mental Health Resources for Agriculture

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and for those in agriculture, recognizing the importance of mental health is crucial. The industry faces unique stressors like weather and economic uncertainty, coupled with the demanding nature of farm work. Farm Credit East and its partners are committed to providing tools and guidance to help farmers, fishers, foresters and their families manage these challenges.

Farm State of Mind Alliance

The Farm State of Mind Alliance is a collaborative effort led by the American Farm Bureau Federation and supported by organizations such as Farm Credit, CoBank, Land O’Lakes, CHS and others. The Alliance offers two key resources:

• Togetherall, an anonymous peer-to-peer online support community, featuring an agriculture-specific subgroup, allowing farmers and ranchers to connect and share experiences. Licensed mental health clinicians monitor the platform to ensure safety and privacy.

• Personal Assistance Services (PAS) provides free access to self-help courses on topics like anxiety, sleep and depression, as well as one-on-one coaching and counseling.

Rural Resilience

Farm Credit also partners with the American Farm Bureau Federation, National Farmers Union, Michigan State University Extension, and University of Illinois Extension to offer Rural Resilience.

Rural Resilience is a free, private, online training course that helps farmers, their families and neighbors cope with stress. Participants learn to understand and manage their own stress, recognize warning signs and develop effective communication strategies. Rural Resilience connects users to appropriate mental health and support resources, and a specialized version is available for Farm Credit loan officers and staff, allowing them to better assist customers and manage their own well-being.

AgriSafe

Another valuable resource is AgriSafe, which Farm Credit proudly supports.

AgriSafe’s FarmResponse training program equips practitioners with the competencies needed to provide relevant mental health care to agricultural producers and their families. The AgriStress Provider Directory provides an online database of mental health experts who understand the unique challenges of rural and agricultural life.

New York FarmNet

Founded by the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences at Cornell University, NY FarmNet provides free, confidential, on-farm consulting to any farmer, farm family or agribusiness employee in New York State. Visit their resource hub for more information.

Increasing Awareness

Our partner association, American AgCredit, recently developed Out of the Shadows, a short documentary about the mental health crisis in rural America. Viewer discretion is advised, as the video does address suicide. If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, immediate, confidential and free support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988 in the United States to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.

During Mental Health Awareness Month and year-round, farmers, fishers, foresters and their families should know that dedicated resources are available to support their mental well-being. By accessing these tools and connecting with trained professionals, members of the agricultural community can take proactive steps toward resilience and health.