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Documentary digs into farmer mental health issues

A Wisconsin farmer and equipment salesman continues his efforts to address the stigma surrounding mental health through his non-profit TUGS, or Talking, Understanding, Growing, and Supporting.

Jeff Ditzenberger from Wisconsin attempted suicide following his military service during Operation Desert Storm, and then in 2014, a close friend died by suicide. “My organization is all about getting rid of the stigmas surrounding it and trying to get resources to people.”

Ditzenberger is featured in the recently released PBS Independent Documentary Greener Pastures that highlights the need for more mental health resources.  He also says mental health is still not an easy topic for many farmers. “Men as a whole, and farmers are, you know, pretty stoic and we’ve always had that pounded into our head that we’ve got to be proud of what you do and don’t talk about your feelings, and I intend to change that.”      

Ditzenberger says the documentary was produced by a college student. “There’s two dairy farmers, a hog farmer, and then myself as a crop farmer, and just kind of all the challenges that farmers go through on a regular basis with low prices and commodities, and the fluctuation of the dairy price, and the, you know, lack of availability of mental health resources.”

If you are in need of help and need someone to talk to please reach out to the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 9-8-8.  For more information visit Brownfield Ag News dot com.

To learn more about TUGS click HERE or to view the documentary click HERE.