The Hoosier Farmer

Everyone faces stress at different levels in their lifetime. The Purdue Extension Farm Stress Team (PEFST) is a statewide initiative within Purdue University Extension dedicated to supporting the mental health and well-being of farmers, farm families and agricultural communities across Indiana.

“We want to educate people and make them aware of the signs and symptoms of stress, recognizing situations that could be improved from coping strategies and how we communicate with others,” said Abby Paul, a Gibson County Purdue Extension Educator and PEFST member.

Recognizing that individuals in agriculture face unique stressors – financial uncertainty, unpredictable weather, labor demands and social isolation – the PEFST team brings together extension educators to provide education and outreach tailored to these challenges. The team currently consists of 21 members who collaborate across disciplines to increase mental health literacy, reduce stigma and promote early recognition of stress and crisis within rural populations.

Through workshops, trainings, community events and resource development, PEFST equips individuals with practical tools to manage stress and support others. Their efforts include suicide prevention education, coping skill development, and connection to local and national support services, as well as media outreach such as podcasts and public awareness campaigns.

As a licensed clinician, Angela Sorg, a Purdue Extension educator in DeKalb County, joined PEFST to assist with mental health.

“Last year was a hard year in Indiana with suicides,” she said. “We do a lot of prevention, but we also know that crisis and disaster are going to happen in agriculture like natural disasters, fire and bird flu. We really want to be responsive in those situations and help people process their emotions after a disaster or a crisis.”

PEFST also assists in the recovery of post-suicide grief.

“One of my mentors explained the seven stages of grief to me like an ocean wave – it ebbs and flows. It comes in and it goes out, and no wave looks the same as the other. So you can’t really put a stage on it. That assumes that once you’re finished with anger or guilt, then you’re going to stop feeling that way, and then you’re going on to the next thing,” Sorg said.

Sorg encourages all residents to take advantage of calling or texting 988 if they are stressed.

“Because it is so associated with 911, the agricultural community sees it as bells and whistles and their stuff is going to get communicated all over the town – and they’re very scared to call it. They also think it’s only a crisis call center, because that is how it’s marketed,” she said, adding that she’s called it to discover resources available in other counties.

In the realm of agriculture, Sorg said farmers love virtual options so they don’t have to leave the farm.

“We call it the ‘Red Truck’ theory. Your red truck isn’t going to be seen at the local therapy office and then everybody’s talking about it at church on Sunday,” she said. “988 needs to be marketed to the agricultural community as a resource. It doesn’t always have to be a crisis. It’s amazing in a crisis, but it can be an informational center as well to help the person who is helping someone else.”

The majority of the agricultural people Sorg sees in therapy don’t necessarily fit a diagnosis.

“They’re really stressed out, they’re anxious, and they’ve had a big life event. I’m not going to diagnose someone with a generalized anxiety disorder when their crop isn’t doing well,” she said. “As a team, PEFST created a training for licensed mental health clinicians to understand those things. You really have to know those unique circumstances when you’re doing therapy with those in agriculture.”

Sorg said one of the things not discussed enough are the farm partners.

“I’ve had a lot of women in agriculture at my private practice recently who bring a whole different set of feelings, anxieties and responsibilities than their partner. A lot of times they have just as many responsibilities as everybody else, but then they’re also responsible for childcare, working outside the home, insurance, maybe the farm finance – those kinds of things.”

PEFST aims to strengthen resilience and ensure that agricultural populations have access to the support they need to thrive both personally and professionally. More information on the Purdue Farm Stress Team can be found at https://extension.purdue.edu/ farmstress.

Contact Editor

Robert Herrington

(317) 692-7871

RHerrington@infb.org