Sunbelt Ag Expo 2023: Cultivating wellness; Georgia’s drive to address farmers’ mental health
MOULTRIE, Ga. – Mental health isn’t normally the first thing most would associate with the field of agriculture. But, the state of Georgia is trying to change that.
CBS 44’s Brian Roche has the latest on how Georgia department leaders are correcting the course.
State officials are taking a deeper look into the mental health of farmers with a new initiative announced Wednesday morning.
Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Commissioner Kevin Tanner says that in the last decade with major storms like Hurricanes Irma and Michael, compounded by the COVID-19 outbreak left enough of an impact on farmers that they needed to take action.
“It is a state of life and death. And it is important to us to be able to find a way to reach farmers. We held a forum with farmers earlier today, talking to them about their mental health, their stressors, and also talking about how do we communicate with farmers in the right way about seeking services,” said Kevin Tanner, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
According to State Agricultural Commissioner, Tyler Harper, another issue that’s come from the mental health of farmers not being addressed is the rate of suicide…
With a 2022 survey saying that 42 percent of all farmers have thought about taking their lives in the last year alone.
University of Georgia Associate Dean of Extension, Dr. Laura Johnson shared some stories about her own neighbors and the struggles they’ve been dealing with in the last few years.
“One of my neighbors, on one side of our farm, their son committed suicide. And, on the other side of our farm, one of our neighbors died of a drug overdose. So, that really hit home to me…” said Dr. Laura Perry-Johnson, Associate Dean of Extension, UGA.
That’s why the Department of Developmental Disabilities is investing 56 million dollars into the state’s crisis system as well as hiring additional counselors and expanding crisis response units statewide.
Both spoke about the need to reach out to these farmers with the new resources coming…
“…That’s something we’re working on in the College of Ag. We have about 328 agents statewide, but our goal is 350 agents. The majority of agent positions we need are in the area of family and consumer sciences…” Dr. Laura Perry-Johnson, Associate Dean of Extension, UGA.
But, as well, another means of helping farmers is simply hearing each other out.
“Well I hope it generates conversation. You heard Matt, our farmer today, talk about how they need to talk to each other. And, we think that’s one of the greatest resources we have is farmers being able to help and talk to other farmers,” said Kevin Tanner, Commissioner, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities.
With all of the trials and tribulations of the last decade alongside a disturbing history of self harm, now is a critical time to focus on farmers’ mental health.
And if you or someone you know is suffering from a mental health issue, to call 9-8-8.
Brian Roche reporting.
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