It is January and North Dakota farmers may already be looking ahead to the spring planting season.
Mental health providers see hope and challenges in assisting producers who are overwhelmed about their operation's outlook.
Becky Kopp Dunham, clinical social worker and co-owner of Together Counseling, which has a program specifically geared for farmers in the eastern half of the state. She acknowledged there is still a stigma among the farming community regarding mental health care needs. But Dunham feels reluctance has been fading by making inroads with family members and farm employees.
"There's a domino effect in these communities," Dunham explained. "It isn't just literally the farmer and rancher but it's people that are involved with them. They feel the impact of those hardships."
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Photo Credit: gettyimages-richlegg
Categories: North Dakota, General