Summary

Project Summary:

95% of rural adults say there is at least some stigma around stress and mental health in the agriculture community, including 63% of farmers/farm workers, according to a 2021 American Farm Bureau national poll. The Check Your Engine mental health awareness project is a four-county initiative that caters specifically to the farmer. This project is in collaboration with the Alcohol Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services Board (ADAMHS) of Tuscarawas and Carroll Counties, Jefferson County Prevention and Recovery Board, the Mental Health Recovery Board of Harrison County, and the Farm Bureaus of Carroll, Harrison, Jefferson, and Tuscarawas Counties and The Ohio State University Extension agents of those counties.

The tagline for this project is “What do you do when YOUR check engine light comes on?” Farmers are so used to caring for crops, equipment, livestock, etc. But what if the farmer needs a tune up of their own? The Check Your Engine project addresses a priority issue of which the Ohio Farm Bureau focuses on providing access to mental health services to rural communities. It is our mission to provide training to the employees of local businesses who interact with producers every day.

Example:

A Check Your Engine trained individual who’s an employee of an agricultural service that fills feed bins pulls onto a farm to drop off feed for a producer he’s known for many years. Every time feed is delivered, the producer comes out to talk while the bin is being filled. Typically, the producer is chipper and quick to joke with the worker, not to mention the farm is clean and trimmed to perfection. On this particular day, the feed mill worker notices the fence lines are overgrown and trash is starting to collect outside of the barn. The producer slowly makes his way to the feed truck to talk. In conversation, the producer says he just can't do it anymore, feed prices are too high, the weather stinks, he doesn't have help, HE IS DONE. The trained feed mill employee knows these are all signs of depression and are out of character for this individual. He remembers what he heard in training, being a listening ear often really helps those in need. By the end of the conversation, the producer already feels a little less burdened by talking. Luckily, feed will need to be delivered again, a casual check up at the next delivery is promised by the feed mill employee.

This example proves the unique possibilities of the Check Your Engine project that can specifically cater to those who are involved in agriculture. Even though those who have been trained are equipped to identify key concerns, they are frequently reminded that these volunteers are not counselors. Instead they simply serve as a listening ear.

In efforts to bridge the gap for those who need support, the Check Your Engine committee hopes to provide training to individuals who relate to the everyday stressors that are specific to agriculture. This Farm Stress Supporter will learn to be aware of the signs and verbal cues that might arise in a conversation with producers and agriculturists in our community. This person will also be able to guide those who need additional support to a professional clinician.

Results:

So far, the Check Your Engine training was presented at the annual meeting of a large agricultural service provider in the area. The presentation was presented by one of the mental health professionals to approximately 100 individuals.

This meeting captured the attention of another large animal health and supply company who gave a $1000 sponsorship toward our project, doubling our sponsorship goal. A portion of this funding was used to provide them with an informational flier with helplines and websites that will be put in the bag of every customer who visits their store.

To further promote the need for rural mental health services, a short video was developed to be displayed at the local drive-in movie theater from the months of April - October. This video displayed the new 988 hotline number as well as local resources individuals can access.

Policy Development :

All four counties developed policies for both the local and state supporting the development of funding for peer support groups for mental health in the agricultural community

The success of the ongoing Check Engine program can be seen in different ways. It was a platform for more volunteers to share their thoughts about mental health services in rural communities. It helped reduce the stigma of mental health by providing more conversations about it in the workplace and making agricultural businesses more aware of signs of stress and depression. It also expanded the awareness into rural communities by utilizing $1900 from the State Opioid Response grant and was used to create and distribute fliers and visual digital marketing at movie theaters. The Check your Engine stigma reduction efforts was also broadcasted on the states podcast with 600 plays as well as the radio station with 8,750 terrestrial listenership at the time the application was submitted (August 2022).

The Check Your Engine project will continue to impact many in the four county district as we schedule more companies to meet with and break down the stigma surrounding mental health.