Farm and Ranch Wellbeing | Iowa State University Extension and Outreach Human Sciences

State Catalog of Farm Stress Resources

FARM STRESS

Training Opportunities

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)

Training focuses on mental health literacy and skills to help someone experiencing a mental health crisis

Question.Persuade.Refer. (QPR)

1-1½ hour program designed to teach laypeople and professionals about the warning signs of a suicide crisis and the appropriate responses

Stress on the Farm: Strategies that Help

Thirty to forty-minute program on stress management

Includes information on the body’s response to stress, signs of stress, strategies to cope with stress, how to help others, and where to find resources

Stress on the Farm: Strategies to Help Each Other

Forty-minute program on suicide prevention

Includes information on the warning signs of suicide, and risk and protective factors

Culturally relevant and scenario-based

Publications

Iowa Websites

COVID Recovery Iowa. Offers free virtual counseling and assistance for all Iowans affected by COVID-19. See the website or call the Iowa Concern Hotline at 800-447-1985 or the Iowa Warm Line at 844-755-9276. Available 24/7.
Ag Decision Maker. An agricultural economics and business website that provides information, resources and decision tools for farmers, lenders, farm managers, agriculture instructors and others.
Integrated Crop Management (ICM). Resources, tools, and information specific to crop production and management.
Farm Financial Planning. Farm Financial Planning is Iowa State University Extension and Outreach's farm financial analysis program. It consists of one-on-one financial counseling, a computerized analysis of the farm business, and referral to other extension programs or outside services that may be useful.
Dairy Team Farm Stress Resources. Resources, publications, information packet to assist in issues related to stress on the farm.
ISU Center for Ag Law and Taxation (CALT) – COVID-19 Resources. Resources including summaries, FAQs, regarding federal stimulus programs. Webinars for producers on COVID-19 legislation.
Iowa’s Center for Agricultural Safety and Health (I-CASH). Works to improve the health and safety of the agricultural population by developing statewide prevention and educational initiatives.
Iowa Mediation Service. A non-profit organization dedicated to solutions for farmers, families, and anyone who may find themselves in need of a dispute resolution expert. Mediation provides a low-cost, low-risk solution to resolving financial, property, or personal conflicts.

National Websites

American Veterinary Medical Association (AMVA) is the nation's leading advocate for the veterinary profession. AMVA protects, promotes and advances the needs of all veterinarians and those they serve.
Central States Center for Agricultural Health and Safety. Our mission is to work with the agricultural community in the Central States and beyond, conducting research, intervention, education, and outreach activities, which aim to discover the mechanisms of injury and illness, and to develop, implement, and evaluate prevention strategies that measurably improve the health and safety of members of the agricultural community.
eXtension Ag Safety and Health provides ways to manage stress.
Extension Disaster Education Network (EDEN) provides the opportunity for states to pool their technical and educational resources to more effectively respond in times of a disaster.
Farm Aid answers the 1-800-FARM-AID line to provide immediate and effective support services to farm families in crisis. Farm Aid’s online Farmer Resource Network also connects farmers to an extensive network of organizations across the country that help farmers find the resources they need to access new markets, transition to more sustainable and profitable farming practices, and survive natural disasters.
Farmtown Strong is a team effort between the American Farm Bureau Federation and National Farmers Union to bring attention to the opioid epidemic and provide information and resources to help those struggling with opioid abuse.
Mental Health Technology Transfer Center serves Nebraska, Iowa, Kansas and Missouri and focuses on providing integrated behavioral healthcare resources and trainings.
National Ag Safety Database provides a national resource for the dissemination of information regarding occupational hazards associated with agriculture-related injuries, deaths and illnesses; to provide prevention information; and to promote the consideration of safety and health issues in agricultural operations and for items on mental health and substance abuse.
National Children's Center for Rural and Agriculture Health and Safety is one of eleven agricultural centers funded by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the only center dedicated to childhood agricultural injury prevention.
Upper Midwest Agricultural Safety and Health Center (UMASH) is a multidisciplinary collaboration of five leading research and health care institutions. This collaboration brings together unique and complimentary expertise to address existing and emerging occupational health and safety issues in agriculture.

North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance (FRSAN) Program Websites

Kansas Ag Stress. Stress resources offered by the Kansas Department of Agriculture.
Michigan State University Extension. Farm stress resources offered by MSU Extension.
North Dakota State University Extension. Farm and ranch stress resources from NDSU Extension.
Ohio State University Extension. This site from OSU Extension includes the best science-based recommendations for and solutions to the issues growers are facing regarding weather impacts, tariffs, low commodity prices and now pandemics.
Purdue University. Tools for Today's Farmers: Navigating Uncertain Times.
South Dakota State University. Farm stress resources offered by SDSU.
University of Minnesota. Rural stress resources from the University of Minnesota.
University of Missouri. Show-Me Strong Farm Families. Mental health resources for consumers and professionals from the University of Missouri.
University of Nebraska – Rural Wellness. Focuses on identifying effective strategies and resources to reduce family stress and promote wellness in rural communities.
University of Wisconsin. Resilient Farms, Families, Businesses & Communities: Responding to Stress. Farm stress and other community resources available.

FRSAN COVID-Related Websites

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH

Publications

Websites

Finding Answers Now is a one-stop for trusted resources on personal finance, stress and relationships, and nutrition and wellness.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers information and frequent updates on COVID-19 related and other issues.
The World Health Organization (WHO) directs global health responses and offers many resources on COVID-19. They also provide many of their resources in a variety of languages.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has extensive research-based information on COVID-19.
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Iowa provides support groups and education to outreach and mental health advocacy. NAMI IOWA works to provide the tools needed by friends, families and persons with mental illness of all ages.
American Psychological Association (APA) promotes the advancement, communication, and application of psychological science and knowledge. Website provides information on utilizing psychology to make a positive impact on critical societal issues.
Mental Health America addresses the needs of those living with mental illness and promoting the overall mental health of all Americans.
The National Center for Complementary and Integrated Health offers relaxation techniques that can help a variety of health conditions.
The National Institute for Mental Health (NIMH) offers Five Action Steps for Helping Someone in Emotional Pain.
The Mayo Clinic offers mindfulness tips as a research-based way to lower your stress and boost your physical and emotional health.

Hotlines

Iowa Concern: 1-800-447-1985, offers 24/7 free assistance and referral for stress counseling, legal education, and financial concerns.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 (TALK), provides 24/7 free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990. Press 2 for Spanish language support [En Español]. Provides 24/7 crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
Your Life Iowa: Call 1-855-581-8111 or text 1-855-895-8398. This Iowa Department of Public Health created hotline is available so Iowans can chat live, text, or call and get reliable information and treatment options, and find nearby help. Also provides website to locate state-recognized community mental health center and substance use treatment centers.
Veterans Crisis Line: 1-800-273-TALK (8255), Press #1 or Text 838255. The lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for all veterans, all service members, National Guard, and their family members. Their caring responders are specially trained and experienced in helping veterans of all ages and circumstances.
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 has 24/7 confidential support for people experiencing domestic violence, seeking resources or information, or questioning unhealthy aspects of their relationship.
Teen Line: 1-800-443-8336 is a safe place for Iowa teens to call 24/7 so they can get the right information to make better health decisions for themselves.
The Trevor Project: 1-800-488-7386 is a national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25.