Farm Bureau Announces Mental Health Initiatives

American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall announced a new peer-to-peer support tool to address mental health and wellness needs in the agriculture community. AFBF is partnering with the Family Farm Wellness Alliance to provide the service that will be available for free to farm families across the country. The bureau is also launching a mental health campaign with Ad Council focusing on mental health in rural America. That campaign will include testimonials from AFBF members.

Both new initiatives are intended to complement the bureau’s Farm State of Mind platform which also aims to assist farmers struggling with mental wellness. According to AFBF data, suicide rates among farmers are up to five times higher than the national average.

“Farming is tough, even on the best days,” Duvall said Sunday during the opening general session of the AFBF annual convention in Salt Lake City. “It can be lonely especially with all the pressure we face. It takes courage to speak up when you need help, and it also takes courage to reach out to others when they are hurting.”

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