(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / Joclyn Kuboushek)
Break the cycle of being stressed, sleepless and silent
October 9, 2025 | Kriss Nelson
Jason Haglund understands the pressures of farming. A fifth-generation Iowa farmer and behavioral health consultant, Haglund grew up with the same tradition of working through challenges that many farm families know well. He also knows what it costs when farmers put their health, whether physical or mental, last.
“The conversation about rural health has increasingly focused on behavioral health,” says Haglund, Boone County farmer and owner of Rural Policy Partners. “The message is simple: behavioral health care is health care.”
World Mental Health Day is observed on Friday, Oct. 10. Haglund says those reminders are valuable, but the focus should last beyond a single day.
Ignoring the warning signs
Too often, he says, farmers only seek medical attention when a situation becomes unbearable. During harvest, when stress runs high, even serious physical symptoms like coughing, wheezing or exhaustion from long hours are brushed aside.
“This fall, heavy dust has many farmers reaching for decongestants and assuming they just need to tough it out,” he says. “But health doesn’t stop at the physical. We need to remember emotional well-being and mental health are just as important.”
Stress piles up beyond the combine. Along with yield reports flashing across monitors, farmers are already worrying about grain marketing, input costs for next year and whether high expenses will pencil out against lower commodity prices.
“Finances are one of the biggest stressors for families across the country, and farmers are no exception,” Haglund says. “That’s why it’s so important we normalize these conversations about mental health. Awareness months and campaigns are great, but real change comes when neighbors and families make it normal to talk about.”
The burden of succession
Stress in farm country doesn’t end with economics. Succession weighs heavily, too. Haglund points to the number of farmers working into their 70s and 80s, still climbing combines and tending livestock long after most people retire.
“One farmer told me he visited a neighbor who had broken his arm,” Haglund says. “That neighbor kept pushing through, but it was a wake-up call. He started questioning when it might be time to step back. That’s the agrarian imperative. The emotional tie to land that’s been in the family for generations makes those decisions incredibly hard.”
In many parts of the world, farmland is temporary; farmers rent one plot this year and another the next.
“In the United States, farmland is personal. It’s generational. The same acres worked by great-grandparents are still being worked today, and that deep connection shapes how farmers handle stress and how reluctant they may be to walk away,” he says.
Coping in unhealthy ways
Haglund explains that when stress builds, coping mechanisms matter. In rural communities, alcohol has long been an easy but unhealthy outlet. Though a Gallup survey shows overall drinking rates in the U.S. are falling, rural areas still wrestle with alcohol used to mask anxiety or depression.
“The problem isn’t always obvious,” says Haglund. “That’s why you have to look for changes. It might be someone drinking more than usual, or less. It might be livestock or equipment getting neglected, or things not getting done around the farm. Sometimes it’s withdrawing from neighbors and friends or changes in eating habits. Those are all red flags.”
The most important response is to notice when something feels off, and to take it seriously. “Instead of offering a quick ‘How are you?’ in the Iowa-nice way, stop. Take time to listen. If they open up, encourage them to reach out for support,” says Haglund.
Confidential help is available
That support can be just a phone call away.
- The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
“These hotlines aren’t just for crisis situations,” Haglund says. “You can call simply to talk. Farmers ask me all the time what happens when they call. It’s simple. Someone answers the phone, says hello, and you start a conversation. They don’t know who you are, you’ll probably never speak to them again, but it gives you a chance to unload. I sometimes call it free coaching.”
The free, confidential resources are available 24/7.
“The calls are private. It’s just between you and the person on the line,” he says.
Battling stigma
Still, stigma is one of the biggest barriers. Farmers take pride in their toughness and independence.
Breaking through that mindset takes accountability from spouses, families and neighbors. “Checking in on each other, encouraging healthier choices and being willing to talk openly about stress can all make a difference,” Haglund says.
Self-care starts with sleep
Above all, Haglund stresses the importance of self-care, and he puts emphasis on sleep.
“The number one thing you can do for your behavioral health is get enough rest,” he says. “Most Americans are sleep-deprived, and farmers are no exception. Changing your sleep habits can change your life.”
Farmers used to take pride in running equipment through the night, their headlights illuminating the fields. Although sometimes the weather demands it, Haglund cautions against making it the norm.
“You should wake up rested, not exhausted or bleary-eyed,” he says. “Yes, eating healthy and exercising matter, but sleep is the foundation. Managing your sleep cycles, even in the chaos of farm life, can make you more resilient and better able to handle stress.”
Speaking up saves lives
Haglund’s message is simple: saying something is always better than staying silent.
“It can save a life,” he says.
Supporting farmers and their families goes beyond yields and balance sheets. It reaches into small towns, schools, agribusinesses and rural main streets.
“Behavioral health isn’t separate from health, it is health,” Haglund says. “Farmers are stubborn, maybe more than most, but progress comes when we allow ourselves to ask for help and give it. The work will always be there. Taking care of yourself ensures you’ll be here tomorrow to do it.”
A personal journey
Haglund’s advocacy is rooted in both his farm background and personal story. He never expected to take on the family farm, but when his father became terminally ill before finalizing a succession plan, he stepped in. Today, he and his brother-in-law operate the farm while they both juggle off-farm jobs.
“During planting and harvest, it gets hairy,” Haglund says. “I might be on the road traveling for work while also trying to get crops in. That personal experience really showed me how much stress farm families carry.”
Through Rural Policy Partners, he now travels nationwide, speaking at rural health conferences and working with hospitals and policymakers. He often describes himself as a “farmer translator.”
“Sometimes health care providers need someone who can put things in farmer terms,” he says. “I help systems understand how to reach rural families. Currently, behavioral healthcare is too siloed and fragmented. Rural areas face even bigger challenges with fewer resources and harder access. We need a more efficient, effective system that saves money and actually meets the needs of families on the edge.”
Written by Kriss Nelson.
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