Resources for Managing Farm Stress

from January 2020 Farm and Food Systems Newsletter

A farmer sitting in a tractor tire and working on a laptop.
Photo courtesy of the USDA

The Farm and Food System Newsletter is a monthly publication covering a variety of topics, resources, and events for Maine farmers.

There are several programs available to help farmers dealing with high levels of stress and mental health issues. Here is a list of mental health and stress management resources compiled by the Maine AgrAbility program.

The Maine Agricultural Meditation Program is available to help farmers work through tough issues like communication and planning with farm family members, neighbor disputes, or credit counseling. Find more info about the program here

211 Maine is a phone call center for Mainers in Crisis. If you or someone you love is in need, call 211 on your phone to speak to a crisis specialist, or go to this online searchable site for local resources. This resource is available 24/7.

Another farm specific source of one-on-one assistance is the Farm Aid Farmer Services team. Their Online Request for Assistance form is here, or, you can call the farmer hotline at 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243). Farmer Services staff answer the hotline Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. eastern time.

If you or someone you know is in an emergency, call The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-TALK (8255) or call 911 immediately.