In 2023 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach staff will be delivering farm stress resource packets to Spanish speaking farmworkers across Iowa.
“Iowa agriculture relies on skilled labor to provide care for animals and the land, which can be very labor-intensive jobs. Couple this with cultural and language barriers, and it can increase stress for farm workers both on the farm and at home,” said Jennifer Bentley, ISU Extension and Outreach dairy field specialist.
Nationwide, Spanish speaking farmers often deal with challenges including cultural and language barriers, inadequate healthcare access, and limited support systems in addition to the challenges related to the occupational stressors and hazards of farm work.
“A part of our mission at Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is to meet all people where they are,” said Demi Johnson, behavioral health program specialist. “The translated farm resource packets are one more way to help farmers across the state learn the warning signs of a mental health crisis and how to access services such as those provided by Proteus Inc. and Iowa Workforce Development to ensure safe and reliable access to healthcare, education and resources.”
Additional resources are available on the North Central Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Center website at https://farmstress.org/. Electronic copies of farm stress resource publications are also available for free download from the Extension Store website, including Farm Stress and Mental Health (HS 180A) and Stress on the Farm (HS180).
Categories: Iowa, Rural Lifestyle