State agricultural mental health specialists support farmers under rising economic strain

This year has been turbulent for farmers: They've faced the ups and downs of trade wars, inflation and the persistent threat of climate change. And it shows. Calls to mental health hotlines for agricultural workers like the Iowa Concern hotline ticked up this fall compared to numbers from last fall. And a representative from the national Farm Aid hotline reported that more than 50 percent of their callers said they were “financially stressed.” Tracie Rutherford Self is one of three agricultural mental health specialists working for the state of Minnesota. She spoke to MPR News host Nina Moini about what that increased need looks like for farmers, and how she helps.