Stress left unattended can manifest in devastating ways—afflicting a staggering number of people who encounter uncontrollable stressors every day.
“We know that farm stress is different. There are so many things outside of people’s control, and it’s not something that just shuts off at five o’clock,” remarked clinical psychologist Dr. Caitlyn Owens during a Virginia Farm Bureau Federation Young Farmers Summer Expo workshop at Essex County High School.
Workshop participants learned the physiological effects of chronic stress, practical wellness strategies and how to navigate difficult conversations as part of Augusta County’s recently launched AgriTHRIVE initiative.
AgriTHRIVE is a community initiative dedicated to fostering the health and resilience of local farmers by cultivating community, celebrating strength and promoting sustainable wellbeing. Guided by a “think tank” of clinicians, young farmers and other community advocates, the program provides workshops and free therapeutic services for farmers, and hosts farm tours for clinicians.
Owens, who trains future clinicians as a James Madison University assistant professor of graduate psychology, launched the program alongside JMU and Staunton’s ARROW Project, a community-focused health and wellness nonprofit.
“AgriTHRIVE exists because we are losing people,” lamented Owens. “Some studies suggest that people in the agriculture community are three times as likely to die by suicide compared to the general population.”
Owens polled participants throughout the presentation, with many audience members anonymously reporting time, money, family and work-life balance as primary stressors.
“Constant stress leads to biological changes in the body,” she noted. “Significant levels of stress activate your fight, flight or freeze response, and when your body remains in this heightened state, we start seeing negative outcomes like high blood pressure, weakened immunity and diabetes.”
Using a “tractor maintenance” metaphor, Owens highlighted basic wellness tips, including visiting a doctor annually and whenever health issues arise, incorporating healthy foods into daily diets, getting adequate sleep, making time for friends and family, staying active, “watching for warning lights,” and taking breaks.
“Farmers are really good at taking care of their equipment,” she remarked. “You, as the farmer, are the most important asset on the farm, so it’s important that you take care of yourself.”
Owens encouraged participants to write down their primary stressors and focus on the things they can control, practice mindfulness, take deep breaths during times of stress, seek support from trusted peers and leverage available resources.
“You can’t really control how many bumps are in the road, but you can control how you react,” she noted.
She also provided guidance on supporting peers through difficult times:
Take the lead. If you notice someone is struggling, ask them how they’re doing.
Listen fully. Don’t jump into “advice mode”; connect them with needed resources.
Keep showing up. Let them know you’re there for them.
Validate, don’t minimize, their struggles.
Contact [email protected] for more information on the developing program.
