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Raising mental health awareness in a tough growing season

The challenging growing season has shown just how many factors are out of a farmer’s control that can lead to stress. Illinois farmer Rob Sharkey says he’s pleased there is more awareness surrounding mental health in agriculture.

“The growing season was tough and if you have the weight of that on you and you don’t have anybody to talk to, it can be overwhelming,” he says. “We’ve all seen the statistics of suicides in agiruclutre and it’s just unacceptable.”

Speaking at the Midwest Pork Conference, he says farmers who are struggling shouldn’t be afraid to talk to someone.

“Hopefully you have someone in your life where you can just open up to them,” he says. “If you’re having serious problems you need to find a professional- there’s no shame in that and it’s going to help.”

Starkey grows corn and soybeans in northwest Illinois.

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