20. Farm and Ranch Family Stress and Depression: A Checklist and Guide for Making Referrals
This checklist is authored by Robert J. Fetsch, Human Development & Family Studies Colorado State University, and Roger T. Williams, Professional Development & Applied Studies University of Wisconsin-Madison. It can be used by professionals to assess evidence of stress. The checklist is located at: https://extension.colostate.edu/disaster-web-sites/farm-and-ranch-family-stress-and- depression-a-checklist-and-guide-for-making-referrals/
21. Addressing Depression, Alcohol and Farm Stress
This 2020, 72-page overview of substance use and mental health among farmers could be helpful to Extension professionals as background information. It could also be used with health professionals and communities to understand better how the farming population may use substances as self-treatment for farming stress. Key data are conveyed in visuals. An extensive list of references and one of the resources are included. Farmer’s scenarios accompany suggestions for how to respond, which could become a teaching tool. Depression, Alcohol and Farm Stress: Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders in Rural America is located at: https://mhttcnetwork.org/centers/mountain-plains-mhttc/product/depression-alcohol-and-farm-stress- addressing-co-occurring
22. Farm State of Mind Resource Directory
The American Farm Bureau released the Farm State of Mind Resource Directory in May 2021 during Mental Health Month. The directory lists resources for farmers and ranchers and their families dealing with stressors and mental health challenges. The directory is available at: https://www.fb.org/land/fsom
F I N AN C I A L MAN AG EM E N T
For many farmers, farm families, and farm operations, major stressors include managing cash flow for the farm and the household, maximizing net worth and minimizing debt, planning for retirement and health care coverage, determining contingency, and transition and succession plans. Cooperative Extension Financial Management or Family Resource Management Educators and Specialists offer personal finance programming on a variety of topics relevant for farm families. Agriculture farm management, economics and risk management specialists, and educators also offer a variety of programs to support producers and their workers. There are many resources available to support farm operators and their families in these areas. However, developing cross-subject matter programming to build resilience will be key to changing outcomes for clientele. By determining strategies to engage stakeholders, community decision makers and policymakers will enhance their ability to develop approaches to assist rural areas and farm populations. A few examples are included here. Tools are provided in three categories: 1) Assessment tools; 2) Tools for farmers and farm family audiences and 3) Tools for Professionals and Key Stakeholders.
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