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The Rural Monitor
Articles by Topic: Stress and stress disorders

“Hopeful Forecasting”: Farmers Showing Increased Interest in Mental Health Resources

June 14, 2023
A December 2021 survey from the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) suggests that farmers and farmworkers are more aware of mental health resources and less likely to see stigma as a barrier to care, compared to previous surveys. Experts from AgriSafe, AgWell, and AFBF share their own success stories of stigma reduction as well as the challenges that remain in addressing farmers' mental health.

Pennsylvania Hospital Transitions HRSA-Funded Program to Online Services and Addresses COVID-19 Stress

July 1, 2020
Butler Memorial Hospital in Pennsylvania received a HRSA Rural Health Care Services Outreach grant to develop a program for chronic disease patients. Partway through the grant cycle, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The hospital shares how it was able to transition its program services to an online format and develop new initiatives to address stress in the healthcare workforce and the larger community.

Preventing Farmer Suicides through Helplines and Farm Visits

May 15, 2019
Difficult economic conditions have caused many farmers to experience high levels of stress and a sense of hopelessness about saving their business and way of life. The Minnesota Farm & Rural Helpline and NY FarmNet are working to improve farmers' mental health and prevent suicides.

Counteracting the Darkness of Physician Burnout

March 16, 2016
Physician burnout is rising as a popular healthcare topic, but the reality has been an ongoing problem in rural health settings. Dr. Jill Kruse shares her burnout experience, how she overcame it, and what she is doing to help others, while Dr. Randall Longenecker gives tips on building resiliency.

Hospital Quality: Tough Issue!

August 20, 2014
Discusses whether quality measures and patients' wishes may be at odds, and how that affects the perception of whether rural hospitals provide quality care.

Socioeconomic Policy Is Health Policy

February 12, 2014
The United States spends more on medical care and less on social services than other developed countries, yet social services can be just as important to health outcomes.