According to a study released in 2023 by the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, approximately 50% of farmers under the age of 46 in Hawaii have experienced depression and approximately 14% have had suicidal thoughts. Farming is a stressful business with many risks and uncertainties, including volatile markets, fluctuating weather, invasive species and other stressors that farmers must deal with daily and seasonally.
With high rates of stress, depression and suicide among this age group, CTAHR developed Seeds of Wellbeing (SOW) in Fall 2021 with funding from Hawaii Department of Agriculture/USDA-NIFA to promote improved mental health among farmworkers. SOW offers workshops and materials in multiple languages to equip individuals with practical skills to manage stress and promote mental health. SOW also conducts cutting-edge research and has produced a podcast that has been downloaded over 2,000 times and has garnered 1,000 Instagram followers.
SOW was recognized for its efforts in May when it received the Outstanding Community Mental Health Leader award from Mental Health America Hawaiʻi.
“This award demonstrates our dedication and commitment to promoting mental health awareness and support within Hawaii’s agricultural community,” said CTAHR Professor, Department of Family and Consumer Sciences Dean and SOW Director Tao Le. “This recognition highlights the effectiveness of our community’s efforts to address mental health challenges and foster resilience among our farmers and ranchers.”
Building social connections to combat mental health challenges
SOW developed the Hawaii Agricultural Mental Health Mentorship Program and has trained more than 60 agricultural mentors to serve as community connectors and agricultural mental health navigators, and is seeking additional funding to expand the program across the Pacific. Guam, for example, has also reached out to SOW and expressed interest in replicating SOW’s efforts.
“We remain committed to destigmatizing mental challenges by strengthening social connections and social capital,” Le said.
SOW works with the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program, a partnership with 13 states and four territories, the Safe States Alliance, the Hawaii State Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention Systems Branch, and other organizations to leverage resources and expertise.
“The effectiveness of our work depends on the relationships we build, nurture and foster so that no one feels alone in their struggle,” Le said.
