HONOLULU — As a result of a study published in 2023 by the University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources showing high rates of stress, depression and suicide among Hawaii farmers, CTAHR developed Seeds of Wellbeing, a program that promotes the wellbeing of agricultural producers in the state.
For its efforts, SOW was honored in May with the Outstanding Community Mental Health Leader award by Mental Health America Hawaii.
“This award validates our dedication and commitment to promoting mental health awareness and support within Hawaii’s agricultural communities,” said Thao Le, CTAHR professor and chair of the Family Consumer Sciences Department, and SOW director, in a news release. “This recognition highlights the effectiveness of our initiatives from the community in addressing mental health challenges and fostering resilience for our farmers and ranchers.”
The high-stress industry of agriculture carries with it many risks and uncertainties, including volatile markets, changing weather, invasive species and other stressors that agriculture producers contend with on a daily and seasonal basis.
The CTAHR study showed nearly 50% of farmers in Hawaii under the age of 46 have suffered from depression and nearly 14% had suicidal thoughts.
Seeds of Wellbeing was developed by CTAHR in fall 2021 with original funding support from the Hawaii Department of Agriculture/USDA-NIFA to help those in the agriculture industry. SOW equips individuals with practical skills to manage stress and promote wellbeing through workshops and educational materials available in multiple languages. The program also runs cutting-edge research, produces podcasts and has an Instagram following, according to the release.
SOW also developed the Hawaii Ag Mental Health Mentorship Program that has trained over 60 ag mentors serving as community connectors and ag mental health navigators. The program seeks funding to expand across the Pacific as Guam has expressed interest in replicating SOW’s efforts.
“We remain steadfast in destigmatizing mental challenges by bolstering social connection and social capital,” said Le.
According to the release, SOW collaborates with the Western Region Agricultural Stress Assistance Program, a partnership with 13 states and four territories, Safe States Alliance and Hawaii Department of Health, Emergency Medical Services and Injury Prevention System Branch, in addition to other organizations to leverage resources and expertise.
“The effectiveness of what we do depends on the relationships we build, cultivate, and nurture, so that no one feels alone in their struggles,” added Le.