We have a real stigma with mental health issues, with asking for help if we're getting depressed. That's true of the general population period, and it may be more true of someone who does farming.
We need to be open. We may need to be patient. It's hard to sit there when somebody is struggling for those words. We often want to jump in and take away the pain. We want to fix it. It may be the best way we can fix it is by listening. People really need to be heard.
A lot of times, people will try harder, will do more. They'll spend longer hours doing something involved with the farming (thinking) if I just try harder, it's going to turn out OK. One risk we run when people work longer hours is a greater chance of injury, maybe taking risks they shouldn't take.
Often the straw that broke the camel's back may be pretty little. Somebody may get upset about something that doesn't appear to be related to what's going on at the farm.
People may say the whole world would be better off without me. That may not sound like a big deal at the time, but that can be a signal that something serious is going on here.
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