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From market fluctuations to pest pressures, farming can sometimes feel like a high-stakes gamble. And for those who live on family farms, the lines between work and home life can blur to the point that it seems like there is never a day off.
The stress farmers and ranchers experience can lead to substance abuse, anxiety, and depression. In fact, a quarter of U.S. farmers have mental health issues.
Farmers don’t have to suffer in silence, though. Fellow farmers and volunteers across the country help each other by offering a listening ear and resources for support through free, confidential hotlines.
If you or a loved one is experiencing a mental health emergency call 911.
Known for its spectacular concerts — first organized by Neil Young, Willie Nelson, and John Mellencamp — Farm Aid has been helping family farmers across the nation thrive for close to 40 years. It connects farmers with opportunities, services, and resources for managing mental health, legal assistance, disaster support, and more.
Call the Farm Aid Hotline at 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243) to speak to an operator in English or Spanish Monday through Friday from 9am to 9pm EST.
If you prefer not to speak with an operator, fill out the Farm Aid form here.
A nonprofit health provider serving the Upper Midwest, Avera Health understands the importance of tackling rural mental health challenges. Avera developed the free and confidential Farm and Rural Stress Hotline to help farmers and their families cope with common stressors.
Call the Avera Farm and Rural Stress Hotline 24/7 at 1-800-691-4336.
The team at AgriStress Helpline® understands that agriculture is unique, and its specialists are trained with that awareness in mind to help farmers find mental health and ag-related resources in Colorado, Connecticut, Missouri, Montana, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. The hotline is free and confidential.
Call or text the AgriStress Helpline® at 833-897-2474. Support is available 24/7 in 160 languages by phone call and English, Spanish, and Vietnamese by text message.
The Southern Ag Exchange Network (SAgE) offers a farmer support hotline to connect callers to someone who will listen and provide resources. The hotline is for farmers, ranchers, and other ag professionals in the South, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Farm stress specialists can help farmers take control of their stress and provide regional farm advocates. The service is free and confidential.
Call or text the SAgE Hotline at 833-381-SAGE.
Close to half (45%) of alcohol-related deaths in the United States are in rural areas, and 74% of individuals working in ag have been impacted by the opioid crisis. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) National Helpline is for people and their families who are facing substance abuse disorders or other mental health issues. The national organization refers callers to community-based organizations, support groups, and treatment centers. The hotline is free and confidential.
Call the SAMHSA National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (1-800-662-4357). Support is available 24/7 in English and Spanish.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a network of local crisis centers across the United States that helps support and empower people in emotional anguish and suicide crisis. “We understand that every struggle is different,” says the network, which offers resources for disaster survivors, veterans, and other groups. The service is free and confidential.
Call or text the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or click here to chat online. The 988 Lifeline is open 24/7.
211 is a network of 200+ agencies across the United States that provides information about local services and resources to help address issues like health care, caregiving, and paying bills. Last year alone, the experts at 211 provided more than 15 million referrals.
Call 211 or, if your state doesn’t offer this service, find a local 211 in this directory.
The Mental Health Hotline believes that “one call can change a life.” Their counselors provide emotional support, assist with inquiries for mental health resources, and educate on the options the caller has to support their health. The national hotline has resources available by state and has hotlines specific to anxiety, depression, and more. The hotline is free and confidential.
Call the Mental Health Hotline at 866-903-3787. The hotline is available 24/7.
Sometimes texting or chatting online feels easier than speaking on the phone. The Crisis Text Line® (CTL) offers “support at your fingertips” on issues such as self-harm, gun violence, and depression from trained volunteer crisis counselors. CTL is free and confidential and available nationwide.
Text HOME to 741741, start an online chat, or connect via WhatsApp.
The National Alliance on Mental Illness® (NAMI®) HelpLine offers peer support from experienced, trained staff and volunteers. In fact, many understand “from their own experiences” the challenges of mental health and can listen and identify resource options. Teens and young adults often work on family farms, and there is the option for them to speak with another young person.
Call the NAMI HelpLine at 1-800-950-NAMI (1-800-950-6264) or text HelpLine to 62640. Service is available Monday through Friday from 10am to 10pm.
Individuals in immediate danger of harming themselves or others and individuals witnessing a mental health emergency should call 911. Medical responders and/or law enforcement may arrive to help. 911 is available across the United States. Learn more.
In an emergency, call 911.
FBN was founded with the understanding that the odds are often stacked against farmers, so we offer a variety of resources to help farmers:
FBN Forum — Connect with our 85,000+ member community in our online forum, where members can pose and answer questions on farm challenges. Click here to visit the FBN Forum.
Events — With 80% of our employees in rural or farming communities, we often host local, in-person FBN gatherings to meet up with and share solutions for family farmers. See upcoming events.
© 2014 - 2024 Farmer's Business Network, Inc. All rights Reserved. The sprout logo, “Farmers Business Network”, and “FBN” are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of Farmer's Business Network, Inc.
The following Trademarks are the property of their Owners as listed, or their affiliates: AgriSafe Network, Inc.: AgriStress Helpline, The University of Tennessee: Southern Ag Exchange Network, Crisis Text Line, Inc.: Crisis Text Line, NAMI National: National Alliance on Mental Illness, NAMI. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.