Starting May 1, the Minnesota Soybean Growers Association is joining the American Soybean Association (ASA), United Soybean Board (USB) and the soybean community in activating a social media campaign to underscore the traumatic toll COVID-19 is having on farmers’ mental health.
ASA’s COVID-19 Task Force conducted a survey in April with growers, their operations, employees and families. The feedback was unanimous: Farm stress is high.
“Stress levels have crept up out there in farm communities for some time now,” said Kevin Scott, a South Dakota soybean farmer and chair of the ASA C-19 Task Force. “As farmers, we are all faced with varying levels of anxiety resulting from a host of concerns – the coronavirus pandemic, weather issues, China trade problems and other farm stressors. But, knowing there are issues compounding out there and knowing how to talk about them and work to reduce them are two different things. This survey cast a light on ASA’s responsibility to try to help.”
This May, during Mental Health Month, ASA is launching a proactive communications campaign to combat #FarmStress and offer #SoyHelp. Help comes in many forms and from many sources, and ASA has researched a range of options that will be shared both nationally and by state soybean affiliates:
- National mental health resources, including suicide hotlines and crisis centers;
- Agriculture-specific resources for farmers and farm families, both national and state;
- COVID-19-specific resources for stress and other concerns, both national and state.
The #SoyHelp campaign will include the following outreach:
• #SoyHelp social media posts throughout May on ASA Facebook and Twitter;
• A social media toolkit for each soybean state and USB to participate and share resources;
• Related stories in ASA’s weekly eBean email newsletter and content for state newsletters;
• Editorials from soy growers on #FarmStress;
• Expert advice on the subjects of farm stress and seeking emotional support.
“Emotional struggles are not one-size-fits-all,” said Wendy Brannen, ASA senior director of marketing & communications and C-19 Task Force member. ” Our team has researched resources to accommodate an array of individuals and their needs, and how they or their families can seek qualified help – and we are hopeful this campaign can melt away a bit of the stigma that sometimes still exists in talking openly about the tolls of stress and seeking help.”
Resources and guidance are available to address concerns ranging from temporary stress to ongoing struggles with anxiety and from depression to thoughts of suicide. Options exist for men, women, beginning farmers, veterans and other groups with specific needs or commonalities, including language and disability barriers. Some are specific to disasters, including COVID-19 and how the pandemic has increased instances of or worsened levels of stress. States have local and regional resources available, including information on telehealth options, financial resources and government offices able to assist with farm operation issues.
“We want these resources to resonate regardless of age, location, gender, or what circumstances have led to needing a hand,” Brannen said. “It could be a long-time farmer who feels trapped by the current situation, a young person just starting out with concerns about financial hardships, or family members out there trying to navigate how to help in any number of scenarios,” .
Included in the resources are links to self-assessments, professional services and local health care facilities; hotlines for urgent needs, warmlines for helpful advice, chat and text lines for instant access; and articles on symptoms, solutions and opening uncomfortable discussions.
ASA hopes the campaign will get a boost outside the soy family. Toolkits are available for individuals or others interested in sharing directly, or they may repost and share ASA and state association materials.
Increasing mental health resources has long been a top policy MSGA priority in St. Paul. In 2019, the Minnesota Legislature reached a bipartisan agreement to raise Greater Minnesota’s rural mental funding by $1.3 million.
