Mental Health and Stress Management

Farming can be stressful in the best of times. Financial worries, unpredictable weather, plant pests, livestock diseases, and isolation all contribute to farmers’ anxiety. Severe depression and suicidal thoughts can be common in our day and age. If you are concerned about yourself or about somebody else, help is available.

Managing Stress on the Farm

Suicide Prevention and Immediate Help

Effective June 16, 2022:
The NEW phone number for the National Suicide Prevention Hotline:

988

The current Lifeline phone number 1.800.273.8255 will always remain available to people in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, even after 988 is launched nationally.

For more information, please visit the Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

  • Maine Statewide Crisis and Suicide Prevention Hotline: 1.888.568.1112
  • Crisis Text Line: Text “CONNECT” to 741741

Farmers Under Stress - Resources for the Maine Agricultural Community

Check out the complete list of resources for Farmers Under Stress, compiled by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension. Here are a few:

Caregivers provide assistance to another individual suffering from an illness, disability, or other limiting condition. Rural caregivers face additional challenges such as geographical isolation, gaps in rural service delivery systems, and the unique needs of agricultural workers with disabilities. AgrAbility recognizes the unique needs of rural caregivers and the National AgrAbility Project provides resources specifically for them.

Maine Family Farms: Life and Business in Balance. The needs of farmers at each life stage are unique, as choices about farming practices, child rearing, business growth, and succession planning enter into decision making. This series, provides a starting point for farm families to think about issues that range from family conversations to managing stress and sharing ideas about life and business balance.