About this episode

John Suscovich discusses the importance of mental health for farmers and his efforts to make the conversation more approachable.

Mental health is one of those tricky subjects to talk about because it is so different for everyone. After spending over 15 years working in agriculture, I have found that as much or more than any group, farmers should be doing more to address their mental health. Because I find mental health topics so tricky to talk about in any one piece of content, I have made it my life's work to do what I can to make the conversation approachable, and to support groups/organizations/businesses that can help me scale my efforts. In 2011 I rode my bicycle across the money raising awareness and money for Farm Aid's crisis hotline. https://www.farmaid.org/our-work/resources-for-farmers/online-request-for-assistance-form/ I started and ran my own farm for over a decade. So I know how hard it can be. Now I work for a company that has donated over $150 million dollars to mental health research. If any of my content helps at least one person to open up and have a conversation about their needs and get support, I will consider myself successful. Take care of yourselves, and if you can, someone else too. Cheers!

People in this episode

Host: John Suscovich

Topics covered

• mental health
• farmers
• agriculture
• support
• awareness

Keywords

• mental health
• farmers
• agriculture
• support groups
• crisis hotline

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Farm Aid, Farm Aid's crisis hotline, mental health research

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