Robyn Stewart
With the seemingly endless rain we’ve been having in Georgia, I’m sure I’m not the only one longing for sunshine and warm weather. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, 1 in 5 adults and 17% of youth will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime. Individuals with mental illnesses are at an increased risk for other health problems like chronic disease and substance abuse. The impact of mental health on the community is also important, with 20% of people experiencing homelessness struggling with a mental illness and 37% of people incarcerated diagnosed with a mental health condition. Mental health has historically been a taboo topic kept behind closed doors, but the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is taking strides to bring those conversations to light.
While the national statistics are surprising enough, recent data suggests that individuals involved in farming, fishing, or forestry occupations have a suicide rate that is over twice that of the general population. Rural stress presents unique challenges that include everything from economics to weather to emotions. A recent survey by the UGA School of Social Work found that Georgia’s farming population ranked their stress level as high (4 out of 5) and higher than it was a year ago. Top contributors to stress included weather (72%) and finances and economics (30%). Despite the stresses of rural life being fairly well-known, only 36% of respondents reported confidence in helping a friend or family member whose stress was reaching dangerous levels, and 33% reported they would have no confidence in their ability to help someone in crisis.
In an effort to make the mental health conversation more public, UGA Cooperative Extension has launched a new website https://extension.uga.edu/rural which provides information and resources to the public. There are documents to help identify someone who is in crisis, resources to connect individuals to professionals who can help them, and other resources for health and wellness, financial planning, stress management, and more. In addition to the website, Extension agents in Southwest Georgia have begun to introduce the mental health discussion at production meetings, which has been well received by many. The most valuable resource that Georgia has on our farms and in our communities is our people, and we want to prioritize and normalize mental health in the same way we do any other topic we assist with.
In addition to the mental health of our farmers and rural populations, it is also imperative that we emphasize the mental health of our youth. Did you know that half of all mental health problems begin before the age of 14 and suicide is the second leading cause of death for 15-24 year olds? While it is normal for children to be learning how to navigate emotions, manage stress, and handle different social situations, it is not normal for those things to be persistent and have a negative impact on their overall health and wellbeing. Having consistent and open communication with our youth enables us to understand the situations they are struggling with and to recognize when they need additional help.
Lincoln County is a rural community with deeply rooted history and a sincere sense of community. Whoever you are and whatever you are going through, there are people who care about you and want the very best for you and your life. If you need help for yourself or if you are concerned about anyone else, please reach out to us at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
