Small Gestures, Big Impact: That?s the theme for May, which is Mental Health Awareness Month, by the American Farm Bureau Federation. Lisa Wherry, Pennsylvania Farm Bureau and AFBF Women?s Leadership Committee member, said it?s all about reaching out to your neighbors.
?The biggest support system we have with mental health is our friends and neighbors,? Wherry said. ?And what we’re doing this year is we’re trying to reach out and do it week by week. We’re encouraging all Farm Bureau members to do this. Like we’re trying to give an opportunity to send a text. The second week what we want to do is give them a card. And then in week three, what we want to do is take a ride. The next week we’re saying deliver a treat, and then the last week is like make a phone call.?
Wherry said farmers have a lot to deal with, and talking through it can help.
?I think what we’re doing this year is really big because it gives us a big opportunity to say, ?Hey, we’re thinking about you, is everything okay??? Wherry said. ?Because a lot of times if we realize as farmers we’re dealing with weather, governmental issues that causes anxiety, regulations, and stuff like that causes a big impact on us and that they’re not alone. We’re all here for them.?
No matter what side of production you?re on or how big your operation is, all farmers and ranchers face the same issues.
?Farmers are proud, we?re strong people, and we don?t want anybody to think that we’re weak. We?ve got to provide food, fiber, fuel for the country, and now we’re letting others know, no, it’s okay if you don’t feel okay. Talk about it. If you talk about it, another farmer might be dealing with the same thing you’re dealing with, and you could talk through it. So, we have grown leaps and bounds over the years realizing it’s out there, we’ve got to deal with it, we?ve got to help each other, we can all work through this together.?
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