Health care webinar on November 2 to support farmers facing difficulties

With harvest season underway across the Prairie State, farmers may feel overworked and overlooked. Their mental health can be affected by stress from debt, production costs, equipment and employee management, personal relations and more.

Unfortunately, when farmers are struggling, they may internalize their problems and not reach out for assistance. It’s important they understand their health and well-being is vital to their loved ones, neighbors and the nation that they help to feed.

“Fielding Resilience” is a one-hour webinar to help community members recognize the potential pitfalls affecting rural health care in farming regions, as well as help providers and the public better support the agriculture workforce. It begins at noon on Thursday, November 2. Registration information is at highmarksce.com/siumed.

Licensed professional educator and board-certified counselor Dr. Nick Weshinskey and ag resource specialist Karen Stallman will discuss the challenges facing farmers and their family members and identify signs of depression, anxiety and suicidality.

Most importantly, the pair will outline the resources available to farmers, their families and those who work beside them.

SIU Medicine’s Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development is producing the Fielding Resilience webinar as a part of the Farm Family Resource Initiative (FFRI). The Illinois Department of Human Services, the Division of Mental Health and the Illinois Department of Agriculture in cooperation with USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, is generously supporting the program.

For more information, contact Karen Stallman at 618-713-0759. To learn more about the FFRI, visit siumed.org/farm.