WEST DES MOINES, Iowa鈥擬ay 3, 2024鈥 Affordability and accessibility are the top barriers for farmers seeking mental health services, per an 果冻直播 Farm Bureau Federation survey. During May Mental聽Health Awareness Month, the Iowa Farm Bureau wants to remind farmers support is readily available鈥攁nd at no cost鈥攖hrough Personal Assistance Services (PAS).
This service provides farm families with personalized, ongoing counseling. It is facilitated by rural mental health clinicians, many of whom have a farming background or understand the unique challenges farming communities face.聽They offer tailored support for stress, anxiety, sleep issues, substance abuse and more.
鈥淲e put so much energy into our farms that聽sometimes we can neglect our own well-being,鈥 says Iowa Farm Bureau President Brent Johnson. 鈥淲hile farming is a聽calling and a significant聽part of our life, you鈥攁s a friend, spouse, parent, neighbor, community member and volunteer鈥 are irreplaceable, and your health聽deserves to be prioritized. We feel strongly about mental health for farm families, which is why we provided financial assistance to a farm-focused mental health program in 2020 that has now expanded nationwide.鈥
Additionally, Iowa Farm Bureau has compiled a comprehensive list of mental health services, Iowa-based resources and suicide prevention hotlines that assist all Iowans in their pursuit of wellness. For more information, visit聽.
