Farm Management

Stress and Mental Health Support for the Agricultural Community
  • February 23, 2026
  • Posted by: Chandler Gruener, Kali Gilbert, Kelli Russell, Joshua Lee, Eve Brantley, and Becky Barlow
  • in Farm Management
  •   Print

3 min read
A male farmer standing with his back to the camera looking at the setting set while standing in a crop field with a tractor and house in the background.

Stress and mental health challenges are common in the agricultural community. Market uncertainty, long hours, and isolation are just a few of the stressors that farmers face. Experiencing mental health challenges is not a sign of weakness, but they do need to be managed in a healthy way. Farmers and agricultural workers do not have to face these challenges alone. There are several forms of support and resources available to help those in the agricultural community properly manage their stress and mental health.

Common Signs and Symptoms of Stress

  • Sleep and energy changes. These include poor or disrupted sleep, exhaustion even after rest, and a heavy reliance on caffeine.
  • Mood and focus changes. Stress can cause people to have shorter fuses or increased irritability, mental fatigue or brain fog, and trouble focusing or making decisions.
  • Body signals. Headaches, muscle tension, stomach or gut discomfort, and a tight chest or shallow breathing can occur and persist from stress.
  • Behavioral changes. These changes can include working longer with less productivity, withdrawing from family or friends, and increasing the use of alcohol, nicotine, or energy drinks.

Resources

The following are helpful resources related to stress and mental health from Alabama Extension and other organizations.

Alabama Extension

Alabama Crops Report Podcast

Publications

News

988 Lifeline

988 Lifeline is a free and confidential resource where people can talk to a counselor about their mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, and more. People can reach a counselor through call, text, or online chat year-round—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. There are also services available for those who are deaf and hard of hearing.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline logo

Farm Aid

Farm Aid is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to connect farmers with helpful services, resources, and opportunities that are specific to their individual needs. Regardless of scale or production, this organization can help farmers with topics such as financial planning, farm stress, legal help, conservation programs, and many others.

Farmers can request assistance over the phone through the Farm Aid Hotline. This hotline is open Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. ET/6 a.m. to 6 p.m. PT. There is also a Spanish hotline available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET/6 a.m. to 2 p.m. PT

Alabama Department of Mental Health

The Alabama Department of Mental Health provides resources that promote the health and well-being of Alabamians who have mental illnesses, developmental disabilities, and substance use disorders.

Alabama Department of Mental Health logo Connecting mind and wellness

Disaster Distress Helpline

Under the US Department of Health and Human Services, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) leads public health efforts to advance behavioral health. SAMHSA established the Disaster Distress Helpline to provide disaster crisis counseling year-round—24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The toll-free, multilingual hotline provides crisis support to those who are experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. This service is available to all residents in the United States and its territories.

Togetherall

Togetherall is a peer-to-peer support network suited for people who are feeling lonely, stressed, worried, or just not themselves. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, people can openly share their experiences in a safe, anonymous space. All peers are trained, monitored and moderated by licensed mental health practitioners.