PA Ag Professional Mental Wellness Survey
As a professional interacting with Pennsylvania’s livestock operations, you have firsthand experience with the mental challenges that a farmer can face in any given day or any given season. Please consider completing this short survey to help us begin a conversation around mental health and what it means for Pennsylvania livestock producers. Our goal is to normalize the discussion so more individuals will feel empowered to ask for help before it is too late.
This survey is about mental health in the agribusiness industry. Filling out this confidential and anonymous survey with candid answers will help this organization to provide the best resources and information that is needed revolving around mental health and stress within Pennsylvania agriculture. Please answer the questions and submit your response by January 31, 2022.
1.
How important is mental health to you, your family, and employees?
Very important
Moderately important
Somewhat Important
Not Important
Don't Know
2.
How serious of an issue do you believe mental health is within the farm
community?
Very Serious
Moderately Serious
Somewhat Serious
Not Serious
Don't Know
3.
Have you experienced or observed these behaviors in any of the following people in the past year? (Check all that apply)
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Feeling tired/less energy
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Feeling nervous/anxious/ on edge
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Difficulty sleeping
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Little to no interest or pleasure in doing things
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Not being able to stop or control worrying
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Feelings or Sudden Outbursts of Anger and/or Frustration
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Feelings of Extreme Hopelessness
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Addiction and Substance Abuse
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Low energy
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Difficulty Concentrating
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Significant weight change/change in appetite
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Frequent thought of death or suicide
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Neglect to livestock, crops or farm as usual
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
Violence or abuse
Self
Employees or co-workers
Farm owners
Farm Employees
4.
How often do you have conversations with farmers about stress related to any of the following topics impacting mental health?
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Financial Issues
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Fear of losing the farm
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Uncertain future
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Farm/business issues
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Weather or other factors beyond control
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Hours of labor
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Lack of workers
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Health issues
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Social Isolation
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Stigma about mental health issues
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Spouse or Partner Relationship issues
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
Farm Family Dynamics
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
The Covid Pandemic
Multiple times a day
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Never
5.
From the list below, please identify the top three issues that you believe have the greatest impact on the mental health of the farm families and farm employees you are working with.
Farm Financial Stress and Uncertainty
Long Hours and Stressful Working Conditions
Weather and Other Forces Out of Their Control
Labor Shortages and Other Employee Issues
Fear of Losing farm
Physical Health and Medical Issues
Farm Transition Issues
Farm Family Dynamics & Relationships
Spouse or Partner Relationships
Non-farm Related Stressors (Political, Social, Etc.)
6.
How confident are you in being able to recognize the warning signs of a mental health condition in a co-worker or farmer you are working with?
Very confident
Moderately confident
Somewhat confident
Not at all confident
Don't know
7.
How confident are you able to respond to someone having a mental health issue, including suicidal thoughts/ideation?
Very confident
Moderately confident
Somewhat confident
Not at all confident
Don't know
8.
Which of the criteria listed do you consider as obstacles for you or someone within your agriculture business to seek help or treatment for a mental health condition?
Check all that apply for you or your co-workers
Check all that apply for your farm clients or customers
Cost
Check all that apply for you or your co-workers
Check all that apply for your farm clients or customers
Availability of Help/Treatment
Check all that apply for you or your co-workers
Check all that apply for your farm clients or customers
Accessibility of Help/Treatment
Check all that apply for you or your co-workers
Check all that apply for your farm clients or customers
Embarrassment
Check all that apply for you or your co-workers
Check all that apply for your farm clients or customers
Family
Check all that apply for you or your co-workers
Check all that apply for your farm clients or customers
No Obstacles
Check all that apply for you or your co-workers
Check all that apply for your farm clients or customers
9.
Have you, any of your co-workers, or farm clients sought care for a
mental health condition?
Yes
No
Don't know
Self
Yes
No
Don't know
Employee or co-worker
Yes
No
Don't know
Farm client or customer
Yes
No
Don't know
DEMOGRAPHICS
10.
Which agribusiness description below most closely relates to your profession?
Feed or nutrition
Genetics or breeding
Marketing cooperative
Food or livestock hauling and transport
Financial/Accounting
Sales
Cooperative Extension
Crop inputs
Equipment provider
Engineering
Nutrient management
Veterinary
Pharmaceutical
Food processing
Other
11.
Please describe your role with company (Check all that apply):
Owner
Top level management (report to owner)
Mid-level management (report to top level, supervise employees)
Front line employee working with farms
12.
Years in industry:
Less than 1 to 5
6 - 10
11 - 20
21 or more
13.
Who do you work most with:
Farm owners
Farm managers
Farm employees
14.
Gender: Identify as
Male
Female
Other
Prefer Not to Answer
15.
Age
Under 25
26 - 35
36 - 45
46 -55
56 or above
16.
Region of State
Southwest
Northwest
Central
Southeast
Northeast
17.
Average number of farms you work with throughout year:
10 or less
11 - 25
26 - 50
51 or more
18.
Type of farms you encounter most:
Dairy
Beef
Poultry
Swine
Small Ruminants
Grain/Cash Crop
Other
19.
Most common type of farm operation you work with:
Sole proprietorship
Husband and wife team
Family partnership or corporation with less than 3 partners
Family partnership or corporation with more than 3 partners
Other
20.
Are there any other issues you would like us to know in regards to mental health and well being in the farming community:
This survey is being conducted through an initiative of the Center for Beef Excellence, Center for Poultry, Pennsylvania Beef Producers Working Group, and Livestock Excellence, and Center for Dairy Excellence and is funded by the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture and the USDA Farmer Rancher Network Assistance Program.
For More Information, contact:
Center for Dairy Excellence
Phone: 717-346-0849
Email: info@centerfordairyexcellence.org
Current Progress,
0 of 20 answered