Researchers surveyed 592 women in Iowa who identified themselves as farm owners by mail in 2020-2021. Nichols personally interviewed about 70 women farmers.
“What stands out is that the labor patterns of women farmers are so diverse. And we were only looking at Iowans, who might have a different answer than other regions with different products. ” Nichols said.
“Generally, time pressure was a common theme.Responses highlighted the triple workload of family, farm, and often off-farm employment, and the stress associated with the expectations of juggling it. ” she continued. Concerns about health insurance were universal. Young female farmers, she said, experience more financial stress.
Tips for seeking support
While the recommendation to “seek professional help” is often a common prescription for people in distress, DeSutter said the terminology needs a refresh. “Therapy and counseling are life-changing for so many people, and you don’t have to go into crisis mode to seek it,” she says. Professionals can help individuals with a wide range of life goals and “make us better people.”
DeSutter believes the term “self-help” also needs to change. “I prefer to integrate self-care and maintenance practices to keep myself functioning and performing at the highest level, rather than having a fluffy mindset like manicures and vacations.
“Instead of waiting for chaos to find out what calms us down, we need to know our triggers,” DeSutter added. “Pay attention to what brings you peace, what evens you out and energizes you. Implement these self-management tools like you would maintenance a machine. If you don’t restrain yourself before the hard work begins, you will be tied down.” ”
Pamela Smith can be reached at pamela.smith@dtn.com.
Follow her on social platforms X @PamSmithDTN
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For more articles in this series, see:
blog:
— Editor’s note: “Take time for your mental health” https://www.dtnpf.com/…
story:
— Mental Health Hope and Support – 1: “Rural America still faces mental health stigma and lack of resources, but the outlook is improving” https://www.dtnpf.com/…
— Mental Health Hope and Support – 2: “Farmers call on fellow farmers to reach out when life gets tough” https://www.dtnpf.com/…
— Mental Health Hope and Help – 3: “Rural youth mental health is full of obstacles and solutions.”
Additional resources:
For more information and mental health resources, please visit our Rural Mental Health Spotlight page at https://spotlights.dtnpf.com/….
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