Talking to a counselor can have a positive impact on your life and your farm business. Knowing where to start is often the hardest part. It is no secret that farming is stressful. Understanding what mental health is, the stigma around it, and the benefits of counseling and other resources available can help you decide if it is right for you.

Understanding mental health

Mental health refers to our emotional wellbeing and how we cope with stress, relationships, and life events. Our mental health is very connected to our physical health. If one is not right, it can impact the other. Understanding, recognizing, and acknowledging signs of stress, anxiety, and depression is an important part of working effectively with a counselor.

According to the Mayo Clinic, mental health symptoms can affect emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Examples of some signs and symptoms are:

• Feeling sad or down
• Confused thinking or reduced ability to concentrate
• Excessive fears or worries, or extreme feelings of guilt
• Withdrawal from friends and activities
• Significant tiredness, low energy, or problems sleeping
• Inability to cope with daily problems or stress
• Struggles with alcohol or drug use
• Major changes in eating habits
• Suicidal thinking
• Physical symptoms: stomach pain, back pain, headaches

Benefits of counseling

When we have a physical ailment or illness, reaching out to a physician is considered routine. When we face too much stress or emotional challenges, we are often taught to pick ourselves up, work harder, move on, and it will get better. Some people even view seeking counseling as a weakness. We need to change that perception, however, and share how counseling can add value to your life and your business. It can help you control your emotions when making business decisions and communicate more effectively with employees and family members. One of the biggest benefits of counseling is how it can change your negative thought patterns to help you feel joy and improve both your mental and physical health.

Free and confidential counseling available for Wisconsin farmers

Counseling vouchers are available from the Wisconsin Farm Center. When a farmer or farm family member contacts the Farm Center, they will identify a counselor that has expertise in the area(s) that the person wants to address. Many counselors have knowledge of the unique characteristics of farm culture and have chosen to join the program specifically to work with farmers. The Farm Center has counselors throughout the state and many that do tele-health. These counselors have expertise in a variety of areas such as substance use, depression, anxiety, life transitions, marriage, and family counseling.

The process is simple, and most farmers that utilize counseling vouchers are able to see a counselor within two weeks of contacting the Farm Center. This is often significantly faster than if you work through insurance or make an appointment on your own.

Experiencing a challenge on the farm? Contact the Wisconsin Farm Center! With decades of collective agriculture experience, the Wisconsin Farm Center team offers free and confidential financial and transition planning services, conflict mediation, veterinary diagnostic analysis, and more. They can be reached at (800) 942-2474 or farmcenter@wisconsin.gov. More information on programs and services is available at farmcenter.wi.gov.