Publications

VDACS Farm Stress Brochure

This brochure created by the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services lists common symptoms of stress, how to manage it, and resources for support. We invite you to share with close friends and as a resource in your community. 

Mental Health Case Studies

These case studies are a tool to help educate farmers, farm families, and extension professionals about farm stress and mental health resources in order to improve mental health within the farming community. Click the links below to access our five different case studies.

• The Dunlap's Beef Cattle: The Impact of Intergenerational Farm  Transfer
• The Family Vegetable Farm in Roanoke, Virginia
• The Montel Family: An Intergenerational Farm
• The Johnsons' Broiler Farm
• The Cooper Family Story

Decision-Making Guide for Farm Service Providers and Educators

This decision-making guide is intended for farm service providers and educators who may work with or come across individuals in the farming community who are dealing with stress. This guide will briefly discuss examples of stressors, warning signs to look out for, and resources that can be shared with farmers who are in need of assistance.

Partners and Resources

The AgriStress Helpline for Virginia 
A free, 24/7/365 mental health crisis line for agriculture, forestry, logging, and fishing communities that is available by call or text at 833-897-2474. The helpline is answered by trained professionals who can offer emotional support and/or help you find mental health resources in your area, and are aware of the unique stressors of the agriculture industry.

Ag Nurse Facebook Page
The Ag Nurse on Facebook often shares information about resources and events relevant to farm safety, health, and wellness

North Dakota State University Resources

Farm Machinery Safety
Farm and Ranch Stress - While not a Virginia-specific resources, this page connects many resources available on how to manage farm/family stress

University of Minnesota Stress and Change Website
The University of Minnesota has a variety of resources addressing stress and change.

QPR Suicide Prevention Training
QPR stands for Question, Persuade, and Refer — the 3 simple steps anyone can learn to help save a life from suicide. Just as people trained in CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver help save thousands of lives each year, people trained in QPR learn how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help. Each year thousands of Americans, like you, are saying "Yes" to saving the life of a friend, colleague, sibling, or neighbor. QPR can be learned in this Gatekeeper course in as little as one hour.

Mental Health First Aid Training
Just as CPR helps you assist an individual having a heart attack, Mental Health First Aid helps you assist someone experiencing a mental health or substance use-related crisis. In the Mental Health First Aid course, you learn risk factors and warning signs for mental health and addiction concerns, strategies for how to help someone in both crisis and non-crisis situations, and where to turn for help.