One of the most devastating effects of some kinds of mental illness is the feeling of being alone. However, thanks to a variety of programs and services, Hoosiers – even if they live in the country – don’t have to be alone.
One of the newest services is the Farm Family Wellness Alliance, launched by a coalition of farm groups that includes Farm Foundation, American Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Credit, Land O’Lakes, National Farmers Union, 4-H, FFA, Togetherall and Personal Assistance Services. These free, anonymous, online mental health and well-being services provide a nationwide safety net of confidential and on-demand support to farmers, ranchers and farm families.
Access to services starts at Togetherall, a safe, clinically moderated, peer-to-peer community where members around the world are there to listen, support and give members’ mental well-being a boost. Through an anonymous profile, users can access a global network of peers, backed by the safeguarding of licensed clinicians overseeing the community around the clock. Access to the platform is available to members of a farm family age 16 and older.
In addition to Togetherall’s global community, farmers and their families will have access to an agricultural sector subgroup to share or read others’ experiences in a safe, judgment-free zone.
“It’s OK not to be OK, but it’s not OK not to reach out when you’re hurting,” says AFBF President Zippy Duvall. “We are grateful for how this partnership will strengthen our rural communities and provide the support we all need.”
This coalition makes it possible to offer services to farm families nationwide, and it’s also why the Togetherall peer-to-peer support platform is available.
Togetherall also offers a range of well-being tools, such as self-assessments and access to additional support services through a partnership with Personal Assistance Services. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, financial health, improving sleep and more.
Mental Health Resources
To learn more about the Farm Family Wellness Alliance and the services available through the Togetherall platform, go to farmfoundation.org/farm-family-wellness-alliance.
You can find additional mental health resources on Indiana Farm Bureau’s website at infb.org/resources/mental-health-resources.
For general information on mental health in rural Indiana, visit indianaruralhealth.org/services/healthy-minds-healthy-lives.
For mental health resources for all Hoosiers, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness-Indiana’s website, www.namiindiana.org/resources.
