It will be held on March 20th at Chattahoochee Technical College’s Appalachian Campus.
The prevalence of mental health issues experienced by Georgia’s farmers and agricultural communities is alarming. Faced with unfavorable weather, unfavorable economic conditions, and labor shortages, farmers of all types often find themselves having to cope with occupational pressures in unhealthy ways, including contemplating suicide. (Photo provided)
ATHENS, Ga. — The prevalence of mental health issues experienced by Georgia’s farmers and agricultural community is alarming. Faced with unfavorable weather, unfavorable economic conditions, and labor shortages, farmers of all types often find themselves having to cope with occupational pressures in unhealthy ways, including contemplating suicide.
On March 20, University of Georgia faculty, farmers, farm families, members of the farming community, and agricultural mental health stakeholders will gather for the 2024 Farm Stress Summit, an opportunity to support Georgia’s farmers in ways that promote improved welfare. We plan to explore this. This event will be held at Chattahoochee Technical College’s Appalachian Campus in Jasper, Georgia.
“Speakers at the Georgia Agricultural Forecasting Program recently held in Tifton shared a grim outlook for 2024. The dimming profit outlook will create additional stress for many farmers,” UGA said Assistant Dean Mark McCann, Cooperative Extension and Agriculture and Natural Resources Program Leader. “The heart of the Agricultural Stress Summit is to bring together farmers and mental health professionals, as well as agencies and associations representing both groups, to connect communities and existing resources, and to create partnerships to combat agricultural stress across Georgia. It’s a desire to establish.”
In 2022, researchers from the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center (GRHIC) at Mercer University School of Medicine and the Georgia Agricultural Foundation based on a survey completed by more than 1,600 Georgia farmers, spouses, farm managers, and farm workers. published a study. This study documents stress levels, negative coping strategies, and suicidal thoughts. This study reinforced previous research from the University of Georgia School of Social Work.
Following keynote speeches from Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities Secretary Kevin Tanner and remarks from Deputy Secretary Jennifer Dunn, there was a discussion summarizing recent research presented by Christina Proctor, a clinical assistant professor in the UGA College of Public Health. It will be done.
The event will also feature a panel discussion of producers, suppliers and farm health advocates to discuss on-the-ground perspectives on farm stress. Breakout sessions will include suicide prevention training, identifying community strengths, and faith listening sessions.
The Farm Stress Summit is a collaboration between UGA Extension, Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance, Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center, UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, UGA College of Public Health, UGA School of Social Work, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Agricultural Foundation, Georgia Department of Agriculture.
For more information about the event and to register, please visit the Attendee Registration page. To learn more and share event details, visit the Farm Stress Summit event page.
For more information, please contact event co-hosts Amanda Tedrow or Lee Ann Aaron.
For more than 100 years, UGA Extension has provided Georgia communities with trusted, science-backed resources based on the latest university research. To learn more about how Extension can help your community, visit extension.uga.edu.
–University of Georgia
