Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Mental Health
Achieving a Healthy Lifestyle
Joyce Doyle and Thomas Mann
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Mental health refers to overall emotional well-being, including how we think, feel, and act as we cope with life. People who are emotionally healthy are better able to cope with life’s challenges, build strong relationships, and lead productive, fulfilling lives.
Mental health affects more than just emotions. It can also affect physical health, sleep, appetite, concentration, and recovery from illness and disease. Like physical health, mental health is important at every stage of life, from childhood and adolescence through adulthood.
In the agriculture sector, mental health of the farmer has come to the forefront over the past several years. Farming is considered one of the top ten most stressful occupations in the United States. This is due to a range of pressures put on the farmer such as financial concerns, personal or family concerns, work-related injuries, change in farm policies, chemical exposure, loss of crop or livestock, and weather.
According to a 2019 poll sponsored by the American Farm Bureau Federation, a majority of farmers and farmworkers say financial issues (91%), farm or business problems (88%), and a fear of losing the farm (87%) impact their mental health.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) states that male farmers across seventeen states took their own lives at a rate two times higher than the general population. Farmers are some of the most at-risk people in rural communities, making it extremely important to reduce the stigma associated with mental health issues so that people seek help.
The recent statewide needs assessment identified substance use prevention and recovery as the most urgent priority for Cooperative Extension. Moreover, substance use was the focal point of the CES Advisory Council Meeting in early 2019. Taken together, youth KIP survey data and data from the CES needs assessment demonstrate the need to address substance use prevention, recovery, stigma, and impact on families and communities.
- The prevention and/or reduction of substance use and its related consequences.
- Changed public perception of mental health and substance use via stigma reduction.
- Carroll County Youth:
- Fatalities will be reduced
- Will be at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress
- Will decrease in drug, alcohol, and tobacco use
- Reduced stigma from local community members
- Increased Opioid Stewardship (less rx’ing by doctors, appropriate Rx disposal, drug takebacks, etc.)
- Delayed age of first use among Kentucky youth.
- Carroll County Youth will:
- See more coalitions developed to address suicide and mental health issues.
- Have improved access to and better utilization of resources.
- Lower stress and have better ability to cope.
- Practice refusal skills
- Intervene to prevent use/abuse of drugs, alcohol and tobacco.
- Project a positive image and self-confidence.
- Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results.
- Increased knowledge of substance use prevention, addiction, and recovery (or related subject matter)
- Increased ability to use destigmatized language
- Improved social skills and/or self-efficacy in Carroll County youth
- Carroll County Youth will:
- Gain knowledge in improved education about suicide and mental health disease.
- Gain knowledge on improved education about diversity and inclusion.
- Intend to manage stress; make time for self; listen, talk, bond with family members; learn responsibility in use of money, time, etc.
- Be able to verbalize realistic behavior expectations.
- Understand the decision-making process.
- Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action.
- Understand the consequences of risk behaviors.
Outcome:
Long-term.
Indicator:
Decrease in reported number of substance use, youth fatalities, tobacco use.
Method:
Number of people incarcerated for drug paraphernalia. County statistics for local school system. Common Measures Experience Survey.
Timeline:
2 – 4 years
Outcome:
Intermediate
Indicator:
Decreased number of discipline referrals in local school system.
Method:
County statistics from local school system. Conversations with Carroll County Champions and Health and Safety Coalition. Common Measures Experience Survey.
Timeline:
1 – 1.5 years
Outcome:
Initial
Indicator:
Number of individuals attending programs and intending to change behavior. Number of students in Health Rocks.
Method:
Retroactive pre-post. Common Measures Experience Survey.
Timeline:
8 months – 2 years
Audience:
Carroll County Youth, 8th Grade
Project or Activity:
Truth and Consequences
Content or Curriculum:
Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours!
Inputs:
Extension Agents, Extension Staff, Community Volunteers, Carroll County Middle School Staff, Money, Time
Date(s):
Spring 2023
Spring 2024
Audience:
Carroll County Youth
Project or Activity:
Bullying Lessons
Content or Curriculum:
Character Counts
Inputs:
Extension Agent, Extension Staff, Carroll County School District, Time, Money
Date(s):
School Year 2023
School Year 2024
Audience:
Carroll County Youth
Project or Activity:
Health Rocks
Content or Curriculum:
Health Rocks
Inputs:
Extension Agent, Extension Staff, Teen Council members, Extension publications, Time, Money
Date(s):
School Year 2023
School Year 2024
Audience:
4-H Teen Court Members
Activity:
Teen Court
Content or Curriculum:
Teen Court Policies and Procedures
Inputs:
Extension Agent, District Judge, Teen Court Members, Time, Money
Date(s):
2023
2024
Author: Christy Eastwood
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Death is unavoidable, yet we keep it at arm’s length. We know it is going to happen, but we don’t want to let it in. The purpose of the Living with Loss series is to help people feel more comfortable talking about and exploring issues related to death. This lesson highlights self-care and managing grief. Talking about self-care and how to manage grief is important because it helps people learn how to adjust and keep on living after a loved one has died. When grief is properly process
