Farmer Mental Health Deserves Our Attention

by | Oct 16, 2020 | Rural Mental Health

Unfortunately, it should be no surprise to anyone that America is in the midst of a mental health crisis, which has only become exacerbated by the Covid-19 Pandemic. One group particularly affected by this crisis are America’s farmers and ranchers. They face many barriers to receiving care such as transportation difficulties, limited providers, or stigma in their fiercely independent and private communities.

By the Numbers:

  • Farmers are among the most likely to die by suicide, compared with other occupations, according to a January study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study also found that suicide rates overall had increased by 40% in less than two decades.
  • More than 450 farmers killed themselves across nine Midwestern states from 2014 to 2018, according to data collected by the USA TODAY Network and the Midwest Center for Investigative Reporting. The real total is likely to be higher because not every state provided suicide data for every year and some redacted portions of the data.
  • The deaths coincide with the near-doubling of calls to a crisis hotline operated by Farm Aid, a nonprofit agency whose mission is to help farmers keep their land. More than a thousand people dialed the number in 2018 alone, said spokeswoman Jennifer Fahy.

At Apportis, we seek to expand rural mental health access for farmers and ranchers in the Midwest region. By surrounding our farmers with a community of care, more people will be able to spot the red flags of mental health issues in our aging farmer population. By getting our farmers the help they need, we can lessen the suicide rate, as well as provide the resources to most effectively manage the stress than comes with the agricultural lifestyle.

If you or someone you know is dealing with mental health issues, please contact:
Farm Aid Hotline, 800-FARM-AID (327-6243) Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-TALK (8255) 24/7

World Mental Health Day

by | Oct 9, 2020 | Mental Health

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, and this year’s theme is especially pertinent in today’s climate. The focus is mental health for all, with an emphasis on greater investment in mental health and greater access to mental health.

According to the WHO, “The past months have brought many challenges: for health-care workers, providing care in difficult circumstances, going to work fearful of bringing COVID-19 home with them; for students, adapting to taking classes from home, with little contact with teachers and friends, and anxious about their futures; for workers whose livelihoods are threatened; for the vast number of people caught in poverty or in fragile humanitarian settings with extremely limited protection from COVID-19; and for people with mental health conditions, many experiencing even greater social isolation than before. And this is to say nothing of managing the grief of losing a loved one, sometimes without being able to say goodbye.

This is why the goal of this year’s World Mental Health Day campaign is increased investment in mental health.”

According to the World Federation for Mental Health, “While COVID-19 has increased the spotlight on mental health, the stocktaking of how greater access to mental healthcare can be improved must always be a continuous process. We can always do more to strengthen mental health response and support in our communities. These investments are not purely the government’s responsibility, nor should doctors be the only answer for those suffering.”

How can we as individuals, communities, and the world be more proactively involved in securing access to mental health care for everyone? According to this publication by the WHO, some ways to promote and protect mental health are to be actively involved and supportive of programs such as:

  • School mental health promotion activities – These include child-friendly schools, and programs that support ecological changes in schools.
  • Early childhood interventions – Examples include pre-school psycho-social interventions, home visits to pregnant women, and combining nutritional and psycho-social interventions in populations of the disadvantaged.
  • Community development programs
  • Support to children – Such programs may include skills-building or child and youth development.
  • Housing policies – designed to improve housing.
  • Violence prevention programs – such as community policing initiatives.
  • Empowerment of women – Socio-economic programs to improve access to education and credit, for example.
  • Social support for the elderly – including day and community centers for the aged and so-called “befriending” initiatives.
  • Mental health interventions in the workplace – including programs to prevent and reduce workplace stress.
  • Programs targeted for vulnerable groups – These groups may include migrants, minorities, indigenous people, and people

It is also important to reach out to friends and loved ones, and let them know they are not alone. De-stigmatize language surrounding mental health and mental illness, and let those around you know that it is okay not to be okay.

“Let us hold hands and unify our voices in moving the mental health investment agenda for increased focus and access to mental health and thereby making mental health a reality for all – everyone, everywhere.” -World Federation for Mental Health

Youth Homelessness

by | Oct 2, 2020 | Homelessness

We all have to face challenges in this thing called life. Pause a minute, and think of all the things you have to over come on a daily basis. Write them down. Is one of them a safe place to call home or rest your head each night?

For many of our neighbors in communities across America, homelessness is a big issue, and that includes our youth.

According to the www.ncsl.org, an estimated 4.2 million youth and young adults experience homelessness each year, of which 700,000 are unaccompanied minors, meaning they are not part of a family or accompanied by a parent or guardian. On any given night, approximately 41,000 unaccompanied youth ages 13-25 experience homelessness.

  • The Voices of Youth Count from Chapin Hall at the University of Chicago also found that:
  • One in 10 young adults ages 18-25, and at least one in 30 adolescents ages 13-17, experience some form of homelessness unaccompanied by a parent or guardian over the course of a year.
  • 29% of homeless youth report having substance misuse problems.
  • 69% of homeless youth report mental health problems.
  • 33% had once been part of the foster care system.
  • 50% of homeless youth have been in the juvenile justice system, in jail or detention.
  • 27% of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) youth who are homeless reported exchanging sex for basic needs compared to 9% of non-LGBTQ youth who reported having to exchange sex for basic needs.
  • 62% of LGBTQ youth report being physically harmed while experiencing homelessness while 47% of non-LGBTQ youth reported being physically harmed while homeless.
  • The lack of a high school diploma or General Equivalency Diploma (GED) is the number one correlate for elevated risk of youth homelessness.

If you need help, there is help out there for all of us. But many times, we live life and don’t Ask, Listen and Love on our neighbors to guide them to help. I want to encourage all of us to do better. Be aware of friends, family and community members. They may need help with a safe place to call home. Contact our company, and we can guide you and them to help! Need Help … Get Help Now!

Mental Health in the African American Community

by | Sep 18, 2020 | Mental Health

Apportis stands by the African American Community in their fight for equality, justice, and peace.

The African American Community is an integral part of the American melting pot. Their culture has made many significant impacts on shaping America, through art, literature and even cuisine. Yet there is a darker side to this story, one of inequality, institutionalized racism, and lack of access to mental health care.
According to Mental Health America, 13.4 percent of the population in the United States identify as Black or African American. Of these, a reported 16% have a mental illness. That equates to nearly 7 million people, more than the population of Houston, Chicago, and Philadelphia combined.

Although this number is significant, it may not represent the actual amount of Black Americans who suffer from mental illness, due to the stigma surrounding mental health as well as provider bias. In fact, according to one article, African Americans experience direct trauma, such as police brutality and verbal attacks, yet are less likely than their White counterparts to seek mental health care. Ways we can all help reduce this stigma and provide support for those with mental illnesses include:

  • Bringing awareness to the use of stigmatizing language around mental illness
  • Educating family, friends, and colleagues about the unique challenges of mental illness within the Black community
  • Becoming aware of our own attitudes and beliefs toward the Black community to reduce implicit bias and negative assumptions

In addition, there are many resources both online and in person to help close the gap of inequality surrounding African Americans and mental health care, such as this article which explains how to seek culturally competent care.

It is especially important to practice self care and give attention to our over all well being during these unprecedented times. This article explains the importance of self care and includes tips for those specifically within the African American community. Some of these include making a self care plan and practicing mindfulness.

Other resources to turn to include:

  • Black Emotional and Mental Health (BEAM) which strives to reduce stigma surrounding mental health in the black community through outreach, advocacy and education.
  • Black Mental Health Alliance which provides resources and listings to find a culturally competent therapist, as well as programs and educational tools.
  • The Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation which aims to build a better relationship between the African American community and mental health care providers through education and reducing stigma. There is also an opportunity to apply for free virtual therapy and a directory of pre-screened professionals who are culturally competent.
  • Therapy for Black Girls which is an online space dedicated to promoting positive mental health for Black women and girls, as well as connecting them to a therapist.
  • Loveland which provides scholarships and funding especially for Black women and girls to promote their mental well being.
  • Therapy for Black Men which is full of resources especially for Black men, and a database to find a culturally competent therapist.
  • Brother, You’re On My Mind which is a foundation through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services focused on serving African American men. Their website includes resources as well as the opportunity to find local chapters of BYOMM to turn to in times of crisis.

Please know that whatever your culture, beliefs, identity or race, you are not alone. Turn to someone and ask for help. There are many willing to listen.

World Suicide Prevention Day

by | Sep 10, 2020 | Mental Health

Every year, September 10th is recognized as World Suicide Prevention Day. This day is in conjunction with September serving as Suicide Prevention Month to create awareness about the mental health challenges that millions of people face every day. At Apportis, it is our goal for everyone to have access to mental health resources at all times.

The suicide statistics are extremely frightening in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2017, suicide claimed over 47,000 lives, making it the tenth leading cause of death in the United States. It is sad to see that those numbers have only increased since then. Furthermore, it was shown to be the second leading cause of death among the population age group of 10-34.

The the COVID-19 pandemic has caused mental health awareness and suicide prevention discussions to become even more crucial. The United States is actively working to support the mental health needs of its citizens. Shockingly, the national suicide rates are now at the highest point since World War II. In effort of aiding United States’ citizens, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved “988” to be the official National Suicide Hotline number. The number becomes active on July 16, 2022. Until then, the current hotline number is 1-800-273-8255 (TALK).

Listed below are some tips from the World Health Organization (WHO) on how to look after your mental health:

  • Keep informed. Listen to advice and recommendations from your national and local authorities.
  • Have a routine. Keep up with daily routines as far as possible, or make new ones.
  • Minimize newsfeeds. Try to reduce how much you watch, read or listen to news that makes you feel anxious or distressed.
  • Social contact is important. If your movements are restricted, keep in regular contact with people close to you by telephone and online channels.
  • Alcohol and drug use. Limit the amount of alcohol you drink or don’t drink alcohol at all.
  • Screen time. Be aware of how much time you spend in front of a screen every day.
  • Social media. Use your social media accounts to promote positive and hopeful stories. Correct misinformation wherever you see it.
  • Help others. If you are able to, offer support to people in your community who may need it, such as helping them with food shopping.
  • Support health workers. Take opportunities online or through your community to thank your country’s health-care workers and all those working to respond to COVID-19.

We encourage our community to reach out to our company, their loved ones, other mental health advocates, etc. to discuss their mental health needs. There are many resources available to those struggling with mental health disparities. Please remember: Your Life Matters!