Avera Offering Farmer Stress Hotline

This 24 hour 7 day a week hotline is a great idea. Make sure to write the number down use it when you need it and pass it on to friends and family.

When I first reached out for some major life stress 14 years ago, I was told by a wise man I would need to get used to reaching out.

The way he described it was: "You have to be willing to pick up that thousand pound phone".

Everyone struggles in life and we often have a problem reaching out when we need to.

Taking that advice changed my life.

If you feel like you are carrying a thousand pounds on your back, you might as well pick up that thousand pound phone and reach out.

The people who put this program together are there because they care.

From a KDLT story:

It’s not always easy to reach out for help. Midwest farmers

are no different. According to the CDC, South Dakota has one of the top 10 suicide rates in the country.  Many of those are farmers and ranchers.

I asked a local farmer friend of mine about his thoughts on the hotline and this is what he had to say:

With the current state of all the financial struggles a lot of farmers are being forced into early retirement. There are also plenty of us just trying to hang in there. The farm economy is causing a lot of additional stress in an already stressful career.

Also from the KDLT story:

That’s why Avera is making it easier for anyone to receive free mental health counseling. Anyone can call a new farmer stress hotline 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to speak with a licensed mental health professional. You don’t need to be an Avera patient.

To read the entire KDLT story click here.

The free hotline number is 1-800-691-4336.

Sources: KDLT

Contributing Authors: KDLT