Advocates Encourage Open Conversations Around Farm Mental Health

Mental Health Nurse Kathleen Jemmett says people should not be afraid to reach out for help.

POCATELLO, Idaho (RFD News) — May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and advocates say it is important to remember the unique pressures many farm families continue facing.

Kathleen Jemmett, a mental health nurse who works with both adults and adolescents, says people should not be afraid to reach out for help when they need it.

Jemmett also shared her perspective as a mother who has dealt with mental health struggles within her own family, encouraging others to continue having open conversations.

While May brings additional attention to mental health awareness, advocates say these are conversations that matter year-round.

RFD-TV will air a special next Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. Eastern titled ProtectHER: The Weight We Carry, hosted by Kirbe Schnoor.

The program will feature conversations with industry leaders working to improve and protect mental health in farming communities.

Related Stories
The U.S. government will give pharmaceutical company Moderna $176 million for a High-Path Avian Flu vaccine, Reuters reports.
Poison Hemlock is an invasive weed in many parts of the U.S., but is currently spreading in Ohio. Ingesting the plant or its seeds is deadly to humans and livestock.

Knoxville native Neal Burnette-Irwin is a graduate from MTSU where he majored in Journalism and Entertainment Studies. He works as a digital content producer with RFD News and is represented by multiple talent agencies in Nashville and Chicago.


LATEST STORIES BY THIS AUTHOR:

Effort aims to reduce wildfire risk in Western Colorado communities
Hemp growth is driven by floral demand, with mixed returns elsewhere.
Roger McEowen of the Washburn School of Law discusses the lack of legal expertise in rural areas and a new program in Kansas aimed at addressing the issue.
Transporting pollinator colonies—primarily honey bee hives—is a major logistical operation in U.S. agriculture. Costs can vary widely depending on distance, fuel prices, labor, and timing.
Kaleigh Backstrom says her early involvement in 4-H helped set her on that path and sparked her interest in veterinary medicine.
Workshops give international bakers hands-on training with U.S. wheat products