In farming – we’re accustomed to routine conversations. We like talking about the weather forecasts, crop yields, fertilizer costs, and harvest timelines. Those discussions are comfortable, predictable, and familiar.
But when it comes to mental health, depression, and personal well-being, the conversation definitely isn’t, and shouldn’t be routine. Jeff Ditzenberger is a former farmer that faced his own mental health challenges. Challenges that nearly cost him his life. Today, he’s focused on getting more people to talk about things beyond the weather. Ditzenberger tells Pam Jahnke that there’s more tools available then when he faced his own mental health challenges, but the stigma keeping people from using them remains.
The Mid-West Farm Report Network and Rural Mutual Insurance, are reminding farmers and their families that physical farm safety and mental wellness go hand in hand.
Changing Conversations: Listening and Setting Expectations
Jeff Ditzenberger, founder of TUGS (Talk, Understanding, Growing, Supporting) based in Monroe, says the landscape of rural mental health has shifted over the past decade since he started the group. Talking about mental wellness may still be considered taboo by some, but there’s a shift happening. Conversations today are becoming more frequent, honest, and intense.
Farmers face a multitude of pressures they cannot control—volatile market prices, unpredictable weather, and shifting supply costs are a few examples. Remember, they’re also human beings that may be challenged with relationship issues, health challenges and other elements you can’t see. It’s complicated, but Ditzenberger still encourages people to wade in and listen.
Support, he says, takes different forms. This is an issue he believes requires the entire community. That’s friends, family, neighbors, acquaintances – maybe even complete strangers that notice something. When opening up or supporting a fellow farmer, he suggests establishing clear expectations right at the start of the conversation:
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Ask direct questions: “What do you need from me right now? Do you want me to just listen, offer advice, or help you find solutions?”
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Practice active listening: Often, the most powerful support you can offer a neighbor or family member is simply sitting down and giving them space to vocalize what they are experiencing.
Life Transitions, Social Media, and the Challenge of Isolation
Ditzenberger also wants people to remember that mental health struggles don’t recognize age. It can affect farmers at all stages of life. As farm operators age, new stressors emerge. Succession planning, shifting family dynamics, health changes, and financial pressure during life transitions.
At the same time, social media and digital communication may have taken away some of the isolation of farming – it also has changed how people interact. Ditzenberger says you can always send a quick text message to check in but it doesn’t replace the subtle vocal cues of a real voice-to-voice conversation. Texting “I’m doing okay” can easily hide real distress, whereas a phone call or an in-person visit allows you to hear how someone is truly feeling. He believes returning to direct, human-to-human connection is essential to breaking through rural isolation.
Resources for Support and Crisis Intervention
If you or someone you know is struggling, you do not have to shoulder the burden alone. Professional and peer support systems are available:
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TUGS (Talk, Understanding, Growing, Supporting): Founded by Jeff Ditzenberger, offering peer support and open conversations across rural communities.
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Wisconsin Farmer Wellness Hotline: A free, confidential 24/7 resource managed by trained professionals who understand the unique pressures of agriculture. Vouchers for tel-health or in-person therapy sessions are also available.
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Hotline: 888-901-2558
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National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Immediate support available 24/7 via phone call or text.
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Number: 988
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If you’re still hesitant, Ditzenberger is quick to point out, “The most difficult conversation to have is never about someone’s mental health or asking for help; the hardest conversation is the one a family has to hold at a casket or graveside.” Reach out, check in on your neighbors, and prioritize mental safety on the farm this week and every week.
