Farm stressors can come from many directions including the agricultural system, farm and family finances, mental and physical health challenges, and relationship difficulties. A healthy response to these challenges involves paying attention to the stressors within all of these areas and determining coping strategies that are useful in each area.
Use the playlist below to view our Farm Stress video series, including the 2019 South Dakota Farm and Ranch Stress Summit.
South Dakota and many of our neighboring states are experiencing flooding and natural disasters. How children experience traumatic events and how they express their lingering distress depends, in large part, on the children's age and level of development.
Much like any event or disaster, the time to prepare for a flood is before it happens. Families should prepare for events by having a conversation with family members.
When a family emergency or disaster occurs, having quick access to important financial documents is essential.
Finding ways to decrease your stress level in a healthy way is important for managing stress in the long-term. This can be done with mindfulness and a variety of tools.
Maintaining open communication and seeking social support can help producers get through difficult times.
David Spiegel, Stanford Psychiatrist says that living a stress free life is not a reasonable goal; the goal is to deal with it actively and effectively. I have often heard that the only people who do not have stress are dead people so when I put it in those terms, I think I will choose the stress!