Conferences
USU AgWellness- Addressing Mental Health Challenges for Farmers and Ranchers
Joshua Dallin, Jacob Hadfield, and Sadie Wilde
Summary
Agricultural mental health continues to be a pressing issue both nationwide and in Utah. Needs assessments conducted by Utah State University Extension identified this challenge, bringing it to the forefront for agricultural Extension faculty. In response, the Ag Wellness Program was established in collaboration with the Utah Department of Agriculture. This program focuses on educating Utah’s farmers and ranchers about mental health and providing critical resources.
To support these efforts, funding was secured through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the United States Department of Agriculture. These funds were utilized to create resources, deliver educational initiatives, and provide financial assistance for farmers' and ranchers' mental health care.
One key educational initiative was the presentation titled “The Greatest Asset is You,” designed as a concise (30–60 minute) session to help agricultural producers better understand mental health challenges and how to assist friends or family members in crisis. Post-workshop evaluations showed that 88% of participants felt confident in helping others with mental health issues, a 50% increase from the pre-workshop confidence rate of 38%.
To provide targeted support, the program developed various resources, including the Ag Wellness website, Ag Wellness podcast, online mental health training for individuals and mentors, and a mental health voucher program to subsidize farmers’ and ranchers’ therapy costs. Overall, the program allocated $266,896.31 to mental health care assistance, covering 1,607 therapy appointments and benefiting 241 agricultural producers.
This initiative represents Utah State University Extension’s commitment to addressing the critical issue of mental health within the agricultural community. It exemplifies how Extension efforts can mitigate human risks associated with mental health in agriculture and provide meaningful support to producers in need.
Details
| Conference | 2025 Extension Risk Management Education National Conference |
| Presentation Type | 30-minute Concurrent |