SALT LAKE CITY — A landmark alliance including Farm Bureau and partner organizations is launching free, anonymous, online mental health and wellbeing services to provide a nationwide safety net of confidential and on-demand support to farmers and their families.
Unveiled at the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 105th Convention, Farm Family Wellness Alliance’s groundbreaking solution harnesses the best resource to build farm family wellness through access to a community, including a network of farmers and ranchers who understand the challenges and rewards that come with the agricultural way of life.
Access to services starts at Togetherall, a safe, clinically moderated peer-to-peer digital community, where members around the world are there to listen, support and give members’ mental wellbeing a boost.
Through an anonymous profile, users can access a global network of peers, backed by the safeguarding of licensed clinicians overseeing the community around-the-clock. Access to the platform is available to members of a farm family aged 16 and older.
In addition to Togetherall’s global community, farmers and their families will have access to an agricultural sector sub-group to share or read others’ experiences in a safe, judgement-free zone.
Togetherall also offers a range of wellbeing tools, such as self-assessments and access to additional support services through a partnership with Personal Assistance Services. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, financial health, improving sleep and more.
“Farming is tough even on the best days. That’s why Farm Bureau has been committed to helping farmers and ranchers across the country get connected with the tools and resources they need to promote mental health and wellbeing — and to check in on their friends, neighbors and loved ones. Togetherall will help us all to do just that,” said AFBF President Zippy Duvall.
“It’s OK not to be OK, but it’s not OK not to reach out when you’re hurting. We are grateful for how this partnership will strengthen our rural communities and provide the support we all need.”
The Farm Family Wellness Alliance is made possible through a coalition of organizations, including Farm Foundation, American Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Credit, CoBank, Iowa Farm Bureau, CHS, Land O’Lakes, National Farmers Union, 4-H, FFA, Agriculture Future of America, Togetherall and Personal Assistance Services.
This coalition makes it possible to offer services to farm families nationwide and deepens the impact of an earlier pilot initiative started in Iowa with the addition of the Togetherall peer-to-peer support platform.
“Farm Foundation has been working towards the goal of improving farmer access to mental health and other wellness services for several years, with the Farm Family Wellness Alliance pilot starting in 2020 after the derecho in Iowa,” said Shari Rogge-Fidler, president and CEO of Farm Foundation.
To learn more about the Farm Family Wellness Alliance and the services available through the Togetherall platform, click here.