Heat Stress

What is heat stress and how can it affect you?

As summer progresses and the temperature continues to rise, heat stress is making its appearance. Heat stress is a buildup of body heat generated internally by muscle use or externally by the environment. If heat stress progresses, heat stroke may occur. With temperatures rising this summer, looking for signs of heat stress in others and your animals is important. Signs of heat stress may include:

  1. High Body Temperature
  2. Hot, Red, Dry, or Damp Skin
  3. Fast, Strong Pulse
  4. Headaches
  5. Nausea

Continue reading

Happy Birthday, 988!

It’s been a little over a year since the 988 helpline was launched in July 2022. Also known as the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, this resource connects individuals experiencing a suicide or mental health crisis with a trained professional who can direct the caller to appropriate treatment or resources and provide emotional support.

Since July 2022, over 5.3 million calls, texts, and chats have been directed to 988. An additional 600,000+ calls have been redirected to the Veteran’s Crisis lines. If you have ever wanted someone to talk when you experienced a crisis, or if you have wanted a resource to share with others, 988 is the number to call (or text, or chat)

Not sure when to call 988 or 911? Click here to get a better view of the infographic posted below.

 

 

Controlling the Weather

One of my favorite movies is Groundhog Day. If you’re not familiar with the opening scenes of this masterpiece, the main character is a weatherman who wants to leave the small town of Punxsutawney and return home immediately, if not faster. His team comes across a road closure, and he hops out of the vehicle to question a state trooper about the delay. The trooper asks, “Don’t you watch the weather? We got a major storm here.” Frustrated and upset, the weatherman shouts, “I MAKE THE WEATHER.”

As most of the state ends another week with minimal or no rainfall, you might be feeling frustrated and upset. What each of us wouldn’t give to “make the weather” and control the rainfall, the temperature, and a million other small details that affect how crops grow and livestock thrive. While we don’t have that ability to control the weather outside our front door, we can control our own personal “weather”- our mindset. Here are some tips to “make the weather” for yourself (adapted from this article shared last year):

  • Make time for laughs: Have you ever heard laughter is the best medicine? Well, it might not be the best, but it can help. Make sure you find time to spend with your funny family member or employee. You know who they are.
  • Stay away from unhealthy coping mechanisms: Coping by stress eating is easy to do, but it can also make you feel lethargic and uncomfortable. Try playing a game, calling a friend, or spending time in nature. An increase in unhealthy habits such as alcohol use can contribute to farm accidents, and could negatively impact you, your family, and your farm business.
  • Take a look at long-term goals and plans: Talk with family and employees about any improvements or goals you have for the future. Making sure everyone is on the same page is crucial, and talking about the future can help us remember that things won’t always be this way, and we can hope for better days ahead.
  • Help yourself and others during stressful times: Make time for check-ins with family and friends. This support not only helps them but you during this stressful time. No one should have to feel alone if they may be feeling any type of anxiety or sadness. While you are waiting for the weather to change, this is a great time to reach out to friends, family, and neighbors- even if it’s just a quick text.
  • Remember that you are more than your farm. We need you to be healthy both physically and mentally. Reach out if you or someone you know may be struggling. There are resources available at go.osu.edu/farmstress and you can reach out to your local Extension office. If you or someone you care about is experiencing a mental health crisis, call the Suicide and Crisis Prevention Lifeline at 988. You can also use the Crisis Textline by sending a message to 741741.

 

Dinner Theater is a Success

Ohio State Extension – Ashtabula County hosted a successful dinner theater on April 11, which brought together community members to promote awareness and education about mental health. Guests were treated to a delicious dinner from a local barbeque restaurant and then enjoyed a performance that focused on the ways farm stress can impact our mental health. The performers used humor and empathy to convey important messages such as recognizing signs of changing mental health, breaking down stigma and encouraging attendees to seek help when needed. Afterwards, representatives from local mental health agencies spoke about the resources available to residents of Ashtabula County.

The event was well-attended. Attendees were impressed by the performances and the engaging nature of the event, and were glad for the opportunity to learn more about mental health in a fun and non-judgmental environment.

Andrew Holden, Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Educator, spoke about the importance of the dinner theater: “Often times we get together for an event like this after a tragedy has already happened, and I am just glad we can do this in order to hopefully prevent it.”

A special thanks to the Ohio Farm Bureau, Farm Credit, and Centerra Co-op for their support of this event. Thank you to the 4-H and FFA members who offered child care.

Five adults stand in front of a crowd and hold microphones and a script in their hands. They are performing a skit about mental health. Four adults sit at a table and hold microphones and a script in their hands. They are performing a skit about mental health.

What Happens After a Disaster? (Part 1)

Any given day, we can turn on the television or open a news app and find a story about an environmental disaster happening in some corner of the country. Stories about wildfires in Colorado or derechos in Iowa are sad and compelling, but we don’t always give disasters much of a thought until they happen in our backyard. When a disaster does happen close to our homes and communities, we can be faced with threats to our physical and mental health.

Humans are resilient and can handle a lot of difficult situations. But sometimes we need to take extra steps to protect our mental health, especially when a disaster happens. What can you do to protect mental health in a disaster?

  • Take care of immediate needs- Make sure friends and family have a safe place to shelter, access to food and water, and proper clothing. Make sure they have access to required medications or medical devices.
  • Don’t force a story- It’s human nature to ask, “What happened?!” There’s nothing wrong with being curious, but it can be upsetting to relive the event each time we’re asked to repeat a story. Offer a listening ear if you can, but don’t pressure others into sharing. Don’t feel obligated to repeat your own experiences either.
  • Avoid “doom scrolling.” – Social media and 24/7 news channels make it easy to stay connected and informed. But constant exposure to stories about disasters and other intense events can be detrimental to our mental health. Set a limit on how much time you will spend consuming this information, and get your information from a trusted source .

Most people will be “okay” after a disaster and find healthy ways to cope and adapt to challenges. If you or someone close to you begins to experience severe stress or anxiety, reach out to a local mental health professional or a crisis line. Each of the resources listed below have trained professionals ready to listen to you, provide confidential support, and connect you with resources.

988 Suicide & Crisis Prevention Life Line– call or text 988

Crisis Textline- text any word to 741741

Ohio Careline- dial 1-800-720-9616

New mental health resource for Ohioans!

“Have you thought about talking to someone about that?” If you experience anxiety, depression, or another mental health challenge, working with a professional can be very helpful. But navigating the health care system is not always as simple as calling your local counselor and making an appointment. You have to figure out which providers take your insurance, how many sessions are covered, and what your co-pay might be. If you don’t have insurance, there are even more questions to ask. It can be a little overwhelming to figure out your benefits on your own, so call the Ohio Mental Health Insurance Assistance office for help.

From their website: “This free service is for individuals, families, and behavioral health providers who need help understanding and accessing their mental health and substance use disorder benefits. Whether you have health insurance through an employer, a government program, purchased it directly through an agent, or are uninsured, we can help.  We’ll help you understand your mental health coverage, assist you in getting the most from your mental health insurance for treatment, and facilitate investigations on your behalf if you experience treatment access issues due to insurance.”

Get started today by calling 1-855-438-6442. Recovery from a mental health challenge is possible and probable, and the Ohio Mental Health Insurance Assistance Office can help you start that journey to recovery!

East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference

OSU Extension to Host 2023 East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference

Ohio State University (OSU) Extension will host the 8th Annual East Ohio Women in Agriculture Conference. The conference is planned for Friday, March 24 from 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. at the Shisler Conference Center, 1680 Madison Ave, Wooster, OH 44691. All women and young women (high school age) who are interested, involved in, or want to become involved with food, agricultural, or natural resources production or small business are encouraged to attend. Click here for a printable flyer

The conference program features a networking fair and sixteen breakout sessions presented by OSU Extension educators, producers, and partner agencies. Sessions this year are focused around four themes Business & Finance, Plants & Animals, Home & Family, and Special Interest (includes break-out with Ohio FFA State Officers). The conference keynote will be led by Rebecca Miller, Farm and Dairy Editor-in-Chief. Her keynote presentation “Clinging to context in a noisy world: don’t lose sight of the “why” in what you do” will.  Agriculture is often so much more to us than a job, which makes it hard when we face push back — from people around us and from influences outside of our control.  Rebecca will share her path through farming and journalism and how she’s grappled with the questions.  New this year is a Youth Symposium opportunity for high school and college students to present their research, SEA, capstone, thesis, or other study projects.

Registered participants, community organizations, or businesses interested in sponsorship can contact 740-722-6074.

Interested individuals can register for the conference online at go.osu.edu/eowia2023 .Cost of the conference is $60 for adult participants and $30 for students. Conference fee includes conference participation, breakfast, lunch, and conference handouts. Deadline for registration is Friday, March 10. For additional information locally, please contact Emily Marrison, OSU Extension Coshocton County at 740-722-6074.

Stay connected with the Ohio Women in Agriculture Learning Network on Facebook @OHwomeninag or subscribe to the Ohio Women in Agriculture blogsite at u.osu.edu/ohwomeninag.

988 Crisis Lifeline PSA

The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline has been live for nearly a month now, and individuals and organizations across the state of Ohio are working diligently to share information about this resource with friends, family, and neighbors.

This new, easy-to-remember number can be used by anyone in the United States who is experiencing suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, thoughts of harming others, or substance use concerns. When you dial 988, you will be connected with a trained counselor who will help you reduce the stress of the crisis and find local resources to help support you in the future.

Bridget Britton, Behavioral Health Field Specialist for Ohio State University Extension, recently sat down and recorded a PSA that you can use to spread the word about 988. Watch this short video and then share on your social media pages today! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fse9ryxGjz4&ab_channel=OSUSouthCenters

Making the Switch to 988!

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline has been in existence since 2005. The Lifeline has been an invaluable resource for people to use in a suicide crisis situation, and now a new initiative has made it even easier for people to connect with trained counselors in times of distress. Anyone in the United States can now call or text 988 to reach the Lifeline when they are in a state of emotional distress, having thoughts of suicide, having thoughts of harming others, or having substance use concerns.

In addition to the new, easy-to-remember number, the Lifeline has expanded the services it offers. Traditionally, the Lifeline primarily focused on supporting individuals experiencing a suicide crisis situation. It now also offers support for someone who would like to talk through the distress they are experiencing related to anxiety, depression, or substance use.

Just as when people called the Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (which will continue to remain in service), a person who calls or texts 988 will be linked to a trained professional such as a counselor, therapist, or social worker for support. These counselors are trained to reduce the stress of the challenge or crisis, provide emotional support, and link the caller to services in their local area for additional assistance. Research has shown that most calls to the Lifeline can be managed or resolved over the phone.

Help us break down the stigma of receiving support by promoting 988! There is no shame in seeking out support.

Here is a list of common signs a person may need to talk with a mental health professional:

  • New or unusual fatigue
  • Increased irritability
  • Depression lasted more than 2 weeks
  • Social isolation
  • Changes in appetite or sleep patterns
  • Thoughts of suicide or self-harm
  • Difficulty following through with tasks at work or school

Most of these signs are compounded on top of each other and last for several weeks.

The switch to the new 988 number has been a work in progress for several years, and it will take some time to spread the word within our communities. You can help spread the word today by sharing this information on your personal or professional social media pages, or by visiting https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/988/partner-toolkit to find resources that can be shared at locations throughout your community.

When the Rain Won’t Let Up

By:  Bridget Britton, Behavioral Field Specialist, OSU Extension

Each morning when waking up recently it feels as though we look out the window and it is either raining or has rained overnight. Farmers are natural meteorologists and are in tune with what is going on with the weather at any given hour of the day.

According to Aaron Wilson, Ohio State University Extension climatologist, there has been measurable rainfall on all but 3 days so far in the month of April. Wet weather and planting delays are sources of additional stress. Though we can’t know for sure when the fields will dry up enough to plant, there are things you can do to keep some of the stress from overwhelming you.

  • Get moving: This is normally when the physical activity starts ramping up. You might not be out busy in the fields yet but start prepping your body and mind now by doing whatever exercise you enjoy to get in the right mindset. This “exercise” might include working on equipment, cleaning your shop, or catching up on things you’ve been putting off.
  • Make time for laughs: Have you ever heard laughter is the best medicine? Well, it might not be the best, but it can help. Make sure you find time to spend with your funny family member or employee. You know who they are. Continue reading