Mental health resources in the Midwest

Suicide is a major problem among farmers. The agriculture industry has the fourth-highest rate in the country, according to a January 2020 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

The following signs and symptoms may indicate someone is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts, according to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Something to look out for is a change in behavior or the presence of entirely new behaviors. This is of sharpest concern if the new or changed behavior is related to a painful event, loss, or change. Most people who take their lives exhibit one or more warning signs, either through what they say or what they do.

Talk
If a person talks about:

• Killing themselves
• Feeling hopeless
• Having no reason to live
• Being a burden to others
• Feeling trapped
• Unbearable pain

Behavior
Behaviors that may signal risk, especially if related to a painful event, loss or change:

• Increased use of alcohol or drugs
• Looking for a way to end their lives, such as searching online for methods
• Withdrawing from activities
• Isolating from family and friends
• Sleeping too much or too little
• Visiting or calling people to say goodbye
• Giving away prized possessions
• Aggression
• Fatigue

Mood
People who are considering suicide often display one or more of the following moods:

• Depression
• Anxiety
• Loss of interest
• Irritability
• Humiliation/Shame
• Agitation/Anger
• Relief/Sudden Improvement

National Resources

• Call 911 if someone is in immediate danger of harming themselves or others.
• Farm and Rural Stress Hotline
  • 1-800-691-4336
  • https://www.avera.org/services/behavioral-health/farmer-stress-hotline/
• Suicide Prevention Services of America
  • (630) 482-9696
  • or 1-800-273-8255
• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
  • 1-800-273-TALK (8255)
  • or Chat Online
• MHAH Information & Referral
  • 913-281-2221
  • Open Monday-Thursday from 8:30am-4:30pm
• MHAH Compassionate Ear Warmline
  • 1-866-WARM-EAR (1-866-927-6327)
  • Open daily from 4pm-10pm
• Farm Aid Hotline
  • 800-FARM-AID (327-6243)
  • Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eastern
• American Farm Bureau – Farm State of Mind

Create and refer to a safety plan.

• If you or someone you love is struggling with their mental health, consider making a safety plan using the template provided here. Having a plan in place can help people stay safe during a crisis.
• Find the template here.

Statewide Resources

Illinois

• Mental Health and Wellness – Illinois Farm Bureau
  • https://www.ilfb.org/resources/mental-health-wellness/

Indiana

• Rural Services of Indiana, Inc.:
  • 574-299-9460

Iowa

• Iowa Concern Hotline 1-800-447-1985 or live chat.
  • https://www.extension.iastate.edu/iowaconcern/
• CommUnity can be reached by phone or text
  • 1-855-325-4296,
  • or live chat at IowaCrisisChat.org

Kansas

• Community Mental Health Centers
  • https://www.kdads.ks.gov/commissions/behavioral-health/services-and-programs/community-mental-health-centers
• Behavioral Health Central Office
  • 785-296-3471

Michigan

• Resilient Minds: Managing Stress on the Farm
  • Michigan State University Extension
  • https://www.canr.msu.edu/managing_farm_stress/

Minnesota

• Minnesota Department of Agriculture – Coping with farm and Rural Stress; Farm and Rural Hotline
  • (833) 600-2670
• Farmer-Lender Mediation
  • (218) 935-5785
• Minnesota Farm Advocates
  • (800) 967-2474
• AgCentric Rural Mental Health
  • https://agcentric.org/what-we-do/education-training/farm-business-management/rural-mental-health/
• Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline
  • 1-833-600-2670, ext. 1
  • https://www.mda.state.mn.us/about/mnfarmerstress

Missouri

• Missouri Department of Agriculture
  • https://agriculture.mo.gov/more/resources.php

Nebraska

• The Nebraska Rural Response Hotline
  • https://imneb.org/imn-programs/farming/rural-response-hotline/

North Dakota

• Mental Health America of North Dakota
  • (701) 255-3692
• North Dakota Mediation Service
  • (844) 642-4567 or (701) 328-4567
• North Dakota Farm Management Education
  • (701) 328-3179
• FirstLink Hotline
  • 2-1-1 or (701) 235-7335

South Dakota

• South Dakota Governor Office
  • https://sd.gov/governor/priorities/mentalhealth.aspx
  • https://dss.sd.gov/behavioralhealth/community/mentalhealth.asp

Ohio

• #gotyourback Campaign Addresses Farmers’ Mental Health
  • https://agri.ohio.gov/wps/portal/gov/oda/gotyourback

Wisconsin

• Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection Farm Center
  • (800) 942-2474
• Wisconsin Farm Mediation and Arbitration Program
  • (800) 942-2474 or (608) 224-5138
• Financial Counseling
  • (800) 942-2474 or (608) 224-5049
• National Farm Medicine Center
  • (800) 662-6900 or (715) 389-4999

In the news

• Preventing Farmer Suicides
  • https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/rural-monitor/preventing-farmer-suicides/
• Red River Farms mental health farm line and podcast
  • https://www.rrfn.com/transfarmation/
• National Farm Medicine Center
  • https://marshfieldresearch.org/nfmc
• Rural Response to Farmer Mental Health and Suicide Prevention
  • https://www.ruralhealthinfo.org/topics/farmer-mental-health
• Resources for prevention / letting people know
  • http://umash.umn.edu/stress/
• Mental health first aid
  • https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/