PERSPECTIVE August 25, 2023
OKFB kicks off mental health series with Adrienne DeSutter Adrienne DeSutter
CULTIVATING
HEALTHY
MINDS ore than 50 Oklahoma Farm Bureau members and guests attended the first Cultivating Healthy Minds webinar on Friday, Aug. 11. How to Have the Conversation, the first in OKFB’s three-part mental wellness series, featured Adrienne DeSutter of Sow Hope, Grow Hope. Adrienne works with agriculture organizations and businesses to promote mental health in agriculture. Part of a family farm herself, Adrienne is no stranger to the struggles farmers and ranchers face. She also knows the resilience of the agriculture community. “We know that if something were to happen, or if some tragedy or some lastminute issues came up, there would be people around because of the community we have in agriculture,” she said. That same community that comes together to support one other in times of
need does not always do the same when it comes to talking about mental health. Adrienne emphasized the importance of having conversations about mental health, but noted many shy away from these uncomfortable conversations, even with close friends and family. “Talking about stress is really uncomfortable,” she said. Adrienne has seen numerous times where the conversation comes far too late – like talking with surviving family at a funeral. She encourages others to have those important conversations before tragedy strikes. “What if we got a little uncomfortable before a tragedy?” she asked. “What if we got a little uncomfortable and had those conversations before we’re in a visitation line, before someone experiences loss, or even before someone has to go through those severe
depressive episodes? What if we made it more normal to have conversations when people just look like they are struggling?” Farmers and ranchers practice vigilant observation on their operations every day, whether it be noticing early signs of pests in their fields or spotting a sick animal before they display symptoms, and Adrienne believes that same vigilance can be used to notice when family, friends or neighbors are not themselves. For Adrienne, recognizing something is wrong is only half of the equation – acting on the observation and talking with the person is crucial. “We have to be the people that are comfortable with getting uncomfortable,” she said. Read more about the first CHM session online at okfb.news/DeSutter.
Connect with OKFB’s Cultivating Healthy Minds Program
1
Re-watch our first webinar okfb.news/CHMSession1 Available on YouTube
2
Find resources online okfb.news/CHM23 Links from Adrienne
3
Register for our next webinar okfb.news/CHMSession2 Friday, September 8 at noon