MSU Extension

The rewards of farm life can be great, but there are also heavy demands — which include everything from equipment failures to unpredictable growing seasons. These challenges can lead to stress, mental health issues and even suicide. Uniquely positioned at the intersection of agricultural knowledge and mental health expertise, MSU Extension is helping farmers, their families and agribusiness professionals navigate these stressors. MSU Extension offers a suite of trainings, resources and educational materials to help farmers cope with this stress; additionally, in January 2019, MSU Extension hosted a national Farm Stress Management Summit.

• 99 participants from 23 states attended the Farm Stress Management Summit.
• In 2019, MSU Extension provided 31 farm stress management workshops, reaching 944 farmers and agriculture industry professionals.
• 91% of participants reported that the trainings helped them learn to recognize signs of depression, suicide and mental illness.