The statewide survey went LIVE on January 3rd, 2021 and will run until the end of February 2022. This is a follow up to the already conducted pilot survey in partnership with the Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center at Mercer University School of Medicine.

We have come to know that however necessary, farming is one of our most stressful occupations. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health conducted a review of 130 different occupations and found that the occupation of farming had the highest rate of death caused by stress-related conditions and psychiatric disorders.

Stress-related conditions and mental illness are on the rise for Georgia’s farmers. We need to address the stigma surrounding mental health in our agricultural communities. It is okay to talk about the issues many of us are facing as farmers. I am the first to admit, as a farmer, I have had my fair share of worries that kept me up at night. It was my friends, family and people in my community who supported me.

- Tom McCall
Board Chair, Georgia Foundation for Agriculture
President & CEO, Georgia Farm Bureau