(KIWA Staff Photo)Sioux Center, Iowa (Sioux County Radio) — Harvest brings demands that extend beyond getting crops out of the field, and a Sioux Center Health provider is encouraging farm families to pay attention to the mental strain that can accompany the season.
Jeanne Kleinhesselink, a psychiatric mental health nurse practitioner at Sioux Center Health, recently discussed the pressures farmers face, changes loved ones can watch for, and the importance of personal connections.
Kleinhesselink says harvest stress can include diesel costs, machinery needs, and balancing long workdays with family time. She says farmers also face uncertainty about the weather and what they will ultimately earn for their work.
She says that uncertainty can follow farmers throughout the growing season, with the financial outcome becoming clear only after much of the work is finished.
Recognizing When Someone Is Struggling
Kleinhesselink says the determination to work harder and handle problems independently can sometimes leave farmers feeling they must carry their burdens alone.
She encourages relatives, friends, and neighbors to watch for changes in a person’s normal habits. For example, she says a farmstead that has consistently been well maintained but begins falling into disrepair may be a reason to check in.
Kleinhesselink also says increased alcohol use or drug use may indicate someone is struggling to cope with stress or other emotions.
She encourages people to approach others without judgement, ask how they are doing, and take time to listen.
Making Time for Personal Connections
Kleinhesselink says checking in should involve more than sending a text message or interacting through social media. She says sharing a cup of coffee, visiting a neighbor, or spending time together can provide a better sense of how someone is doing.
She identified several sources of support, including Farm Bureau mental health resources, Avera’s farm crisis line, and Your Life Iowa. She also encouraged people experiencing a mental health crisis to call or text 988.
Locally, Kleinhesselink says Sioux Center Health’s behavioral health program includes three psychiatric nurse practitioners and five therapists.
People with questions or those interested in making an appointment can reach the behavioral health department directly at 712-722-8222.
