When the stresses of agriculture seem too great, farmers don’t have to go it alone. Caring and confidential counseling sessions are available to farmers, ranchers and members of their households.
Jamestown Regional Medical Center collaborated with The Village Business Institute to offer web-based counseling at no cost to the agricultural community. The program is called Agricultural Workforce Assistance (AWA) and includes up to three free sessions of counseling support.
“Our teams in our Emergency Department see people present with a trauma or injury, however, in the conversation, we learn that these individuals also need care for their mental health. The AWA gives our teams and others a resource so farmers and ranchers get the care their need,” said Ricki Ramlo, chief operating officer at JRMC.
Farming/ranching is one of the more stressful occupations, said Christina Rittenbach, Stutsman County Extension agent. Adding to that stress is the severe flooding and crop losses of this harvest season.
“Recent stressors of difficult economic conditions and poor weather conditions have taken their toll, and there has been an increase in suicide rates amongst the farming and ranching population. When stressors become too much to bear, speaking with a mental health professional can make all the difference,” she said.
The Village AWA program makes it easy for farmers and ranchers to seek the help they need and speak with trained professionals that will help them work through their challenges, she said.
AWA offers web-based services so farmers, ranchers and their families do not have to travel. If technology is a barrier, in-person appointments can be scheduled in Fargo.
The three free counseling services through AWA are available to farm families in JRMC’s nine-county region: Stutsman, Foster, LaMoure, Logan, Barnes, Eddy, Griggs, Kidder and Wells.
The program is a collaboration of Jamestown Regional Medical Center and The Village. With hope, the collaboration can expand to include additional counties in the future.
If you or someone you love exhibits the following signs or symptoms, they may benefit from the AWA.
- decline of care or loss of interest in crops, animals or the farm
- deterioration of personal appearance
- less social, more likely to withdraw from events with family and friends
- change in mood or routine
- increase in alcohol or drug use
- altering life insurance policies, giving away possessions, calling to say goodbye
To access the services, call 1 (800) 627-8220 and ask for web-based counseling with The Village AWA.