The Massachusetts Department of Agriculture Resources (MDAR) MassGrown Wellness program was developed to assist farmers experiencing anxiety, depression, isolation and other mental health challenges impacting their farming lives. MassGrown Wellness provides tools and resources to help farmers and those in contact with farmers identify potential stressors that may be impacting their mental well-being.
MassGrown Wellness is working with over 15 partner organizations located throughout the Commonwealth to share the program’s resources to all Massachusetts farmers, professional agriculture staff and those that support the state’s agricultural community.
All of us, however, should be aware of ways to identify the signs of a farmer who may need assistance, which include:
- Changes in emotion or behavior, including changes in regular routines, becoming quieter, anxiety and loss of spirit or humor.
- Changes in attitude or cognitive skills, like becoming frequently critical or agitated, lack of concentration and trouble making decisions.
- Changes in personal health or appearance, like not showering or taking care of themselves and changes in exercise or eating habits.
- Changes in farm operations, including decline in care of animals or neglect of the farmstead.
- Increased anger or paranoia, including rants about external forces, such as the government, politicians or perceived conspiracies.
Identifying potential mental-health issues, however, is only half of the job. There are some crucial ways to support a farmer in emotional pain, including:
Listening. Be there for them, ask questions and stay connected. Make eye contact and use body language such as nodding to show you’re following them.
Responding thoughtfully to what you’re hearing and empathetically engage. For example, discuss possible solutions by saying something like, “It seems like you’re stressed and agitated. You’re probably not mad at me, so let’s try to cool down, calmly discuss it and try to troubleshoot together.”
Finding help and assisting in making the proper connection to resources and programs, like MassGrown Wellness, launched by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR). Programs like this are designed specifically for farmers and provide access to hotlines for mental health emergencies, materials on how to deal with stress and de-escalate tense situations, ways to practice self-care and more. As part of the MassGrown Wellness program, MDAR is also launching a peer-to-peer network that will provide a safe space for farmers to connect with and speak to other farmers facing similar issues. Groups will provide support services for veterans, BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women and other farmers.
Learn more about the MassGrown Wellness resources available on the program’s Partner Organization page.