Group photo of Seeds of Wellbeing, who received the Outstanding Community Mental Health Leader Award from Mental Health America Hawaii in May. Photo courtesy of UH
Submitted by University of Hawaii
According to a study released in 2023 by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, approximately 50% of farmers under the age of 46 in Hawaii have experienced depression and approximately 14% have had suicidal thoughts. Farming is a stressful business with many risks and uncertainties, including volatile markets, fluctuating weather, invasive species and other stressors that farmers must deal with daily and seasonally.
With high rates of stress, depression and suicide among this age group, CTAHR developed Seeds of Wellbeing (SOW) in Fall 2021 with funding from Hawaii Department of Agriculture/USDA-NIFA to promote improved mental health among farmworkers. SOW offers workshops and materials in multiple languages to equip individuals with practical skills to manage stress and promote mental health. SOW also conducts cutting-edge research and has produced a podcast that has been downloaded over 2,000 times and has garnered 1,000 Instagram followers.
SOW was recognized for its efforts in May when it received the Outstanding Community Mental Health Leader award from Mental Health America Hawai’i.
“This award demonstrates our dedication and commitment to promoting mental health awareness and support within Hawaii’s agricultural community.” “We are pleased to be working with the SOW to bring this technology to the market,” said Thao Le, CTAHR professor, chair of the Department of Family and Consumer Sciences and director of the SOW. “This recognition highlights the effectiveness of our community’s efforts to address mental health challenges and build resilience among our farmers and ranchers.”
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Group photo of Seeds of Wellbeing, who received the Outstanding Community Mental Health Leader Award from Mental Health America Hawaii in May. Photo courtesy of UH
