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Reaching out matters: warning signs of farmer stress highlighted by extension specialist

An extension mental health specialist says farmers can exhibit signs of stress in many ways.

Emily Krekelberg with the University of Minnesota tells Brownfield it’s important to remember stress looks different depending on the person.

“There are people who might have a lot of emotional symptoms of stress, right? Feeling like they’re on an emotional rollercoaster, irritability, snapping back more than they might normally. And there are also behavioral symptoms.”

She says those include the use of alcohol, tobacco, or drugs.

“Or we might engage in more risky behaviors than we normally would. Or we may withdraw from our social life.”

Krekelberg encourages everyone to watch for warning signs and says having someone notice and reach out can be a critical step toward getting support.