Wellness for farm families: Alliance offers free services nationwide

OAK BROOK, Ill. — A peer-to-peer community is available to farmers and their families from across the United States to build farm family wellness.

Farm Foundation conducted a Farm Family Wellness Alliance pilot project in 2020 in a few counties in Iowa.

“We had a vision for it to be a national service,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, president and CEO of Farm Foundation.

“It spread to all of Iowa, then to Illinois and in January of this year we were thrilled to have the resources and partners to launch it nationally,” she said. “It includes an online peer-to-peer community and a suite of services all provided at no cost to farmers.”

Access to the services starts at Togetherall.

“There’s a lot of stressors folks are facing, so to be able to have a platform where you’re able to speak amongst your peers and other people that really get it is hopefully a comforting thing,” said Mary-Lyn Kieffer, senior manager of partnerships for Togetherall.

“This is anonymous, which is very unique to this platform,” Kieffer said. “And it’s monitored 24/7 by live licensed clinicians.”

Once registered, farmers can customize their feed to read about or participate in a variety of topics such as anxiety, depression, recovery or post-traumatic stress disorder.

“The Wall Guide is our clinicians who make sure you are responded to and to encourage other folks to share their support,” Kieffer said. “There is also an option for people to go into a private chat by creating a small group.”

Togetherall has a number of other resources, including self-help courses and articles.

“We were part of the pilot program and are excited about this current option because there is a benefit for folks who speak agriculture and can talk to each other about the unique challenges,” said Amie Merz, senior account manager for Personal Assistance Services.

“Folks can talk with folks that get it and you can be in more than one group such as grief or single parenting,” Merz said.

PAS provides mental health and well-being services.

“When you have connections with the Togetherall network, we are the next step if you want to work on things with your family,” Merz said.

“There are other tools like journaling, goal setting and self assessment,” she said. “These are opportunities for you to learn more about yourself and to get some intervention because sometimes people are reluctant to get help and they need a little support.”

In addition to the online platform, PAS also has a farm-specific phone number, 833-999-FARM, that is answered by agricultural-competent clinicians 24 hours a day.

“We know your schedules are not 9-to-5 jobs,” Merz said. “So, if you’re not sleeping or its Sunday evening, you can call us.”

Another option is the texting number — 314-451-5272. This number is available from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Central Time.

“Everything is confidential, free and available for any agriculturally related person and family in the U.S.,” Merz said.

In addition to family and individual counseling, farmers have access to nutrition and health coaching, financial consultation, retirement coaching, legal consultation, organization and productivity coaches, parenting and childcare consultations, elder care management, career consultation, nicotine cessation, life coaches and financial consultation.

“Everything is individualized to a person’s goal and you choose a time that works for you and your family,” Merz said.

“We have database of affiliates nationwide and you can utilize these services in person, virtually or over the phone,” she said. “The virtual network has really helped to access services because if you live in a rural community now you can see anybody in the state and it gives you more times to choose from — day, evenings or weekends.”

The American Farm Bureau Federation is one of the marketing partners for the Farm Family Wellness Alliance.

“We got involved because it was member driven,” said Jessica Cabrera, AFBF managing director of member engagement. “We heard often from our members how important the peer community is and opportunities where the stigma is not so prevalent.”

In 2020, AFBF research showed 68% of farmers surveyed said isolation had an impact on mental health.

“So, anything we can do to reduce that isolation is important,” Cabrera said.

“American Farm Bureau really wants to be in the business of connecting farmers with information and resources to promote their mental health wellness,” the managing director said.

“Sometimes if you just get something off your chest, it might not brew and fester and turn into greater levels of anxiety and stress that can occur when something is bottled up and pressed down for a long time.

“We really like the ability to quickly access this resource and engage immediately when you’re going through a difficult time,” she said. “We need to make sure farmers are taken care of and that’s how we’ll build a sustainable future for agriculture.”

Farm Rescue is also a marketing partner for the alliance. Farm Rescue currently works in eight states — Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana and, starting July 1, Wisconsin.

“We help farm families in crisis from health issues, drought, flood, tornadoes or anything that keeps a family from putting their crop in, taking a crop out or taking care of livestock,” said Terry Johnston, Farm Rescue development officer for the Corn Belt states.

“We come in with volunteers and equipment and do it at no cost to the family,” he said. “We have over 600 volunteers ready, willing and able to help when a family needs us.”

However, Johnston said, the Farm Rescue volunteers are not licensed counselors, financial experts or mental health clinicians.

“When we are helping a family there’s a lot of stress and a lot of needed resources so providing information easily through the alliance to get help is appreciated,” he said.

For more information about the Farm Family Wellness Alliance, go to www.farmfoundation.org.