DELAWARE — A new mental health awareness campaign from the Delaware Farm Bureau and the Delaware Department of Agriculture is aiming to provide a lifeline to farmers and rural communities across the state. The initiative includes distributing free stickers featuring the national suicide and crisis hotline number, 988, for display in tractor cabs, farm offices, and other visible locations.
With the message "It's okay to not be okay," the campaign encourages people in agriculture to seek help when facing mental health challenges.
“Delaware’s farm families work tirelessly to feed our communities and care for our land. Yet many carry burdens beyond reaping the harvest,” said Secretary of Agriculture Don Clifton. “Fluctuating markets, unpredictable weather, and rising costs take a profound toll on their mental well-being.”
The stickers are available at no cost and can be picked up or distributed by anyone, including agricultural businesses, equipment dealers, and service providers. The goal is to keep the 988 hotline visible and accessible for farmers and rural workers who may be struggling in silence.
The campaign builds on the national Farm State of Mind effort launched by the American Farm Bureau Federation. This broader initiative offers mental health tools and guidance for farmers, ranchers, and their families, along with advice for those supporting someone who may be in crisis.
Steve Breeding, Delaware Farm Bureau First Vice President and Sussex County Farm Bureau President, is helping promote the program nationally through his role on the AFBF Promotion and Engagement Committee.
“After going through a time when my own mental health was at its lowest, I know how hard it can be to admit you need help, and even harder to actually ask for it,” Breeding said. “Seeing the Farm State of Mind 988 flyer and making that call was the best decision of my life. I hope these stickers help someone else make that same life-changing decision.”
Organizers say the 988 campaign is just the beginning, with more outreach efforts in the works.