HARRISONBURG, Va. (WHSV) – It’s Agriculture Safety Awareness Week, and the Virginia Farm Bureau is highlighting the AgriSafe Network’s AgriStress Helpline.
The helpline is free and operates 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Matt Nuchols, Safety Coordinator of the Virginia Farm Bureau, said farmers have higher suicide rates, due to the stress of the job.
”When you’re farming, you’ve always been dependent on weather and other things out of your control. Most farmers live on the farm, and you never truly leave it,” Nuckols said. “You want to be tough to get through things, but every now and then, it’s okay not to be okay.”
Nuckols said there is a stigma surrounding mental health in the farming community, especially since farmers are often pressured to be self-reliant. He assured farmers there is no shame in asking for help.
If you or a farmer you know are struggling with mental health, you can call the AgriStress helpline. That number is 833-897-2474.
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