FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 28, 2020
CONTACT: Shelbie Powell shelbie.powell2@uthct.edu 903-877-1440 office | 903-521-2412 cell
Amanda Wickman amanda.wickman@uthct.edu 903-877-5998
Tyler, Texas — In addition to physical injuries, AFF workers are also at risk of behavioral and mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, substance use, and death by suicide. Due to environmental, financial, and social factors, there are several stressors inherent in AFF work.
For this reason, the SW Ag Center has created a social media promotion that includes messaging targeting farmers, ranchers, foresters, loggers and people involved in commercial fishing. Messages will target the various stressors in AFF work and break down the stigma of mental health. This promotion will start in August 2020 and run through Spring of 2021.
The toolkit’s theme, Seasons Change | You Remain, emphasizes to agricultural workers, fisherman, and loggers/foresters that hard situations are temporary. Stress management techniques will be described to help workers overcome challenges and remain happy and healthy.
The social media messages will reflect seasonal stressors:
Summer | August/September: hay season, temp control for animals, heat stress
Fall | October/November: harvest season
Winter | December/January: maintenance/repairs on equipment, temp control for animals
Spring | February/March: stress on beef cattle ranchers and crop planting season
If your organization or business would like to participate, please visit http://www.swagcenter.org for logos further information and resources related to this year’s campaign.
As we promote this campaign over the next year, please join us in spreading awareness of the physical and mental risks associated with working in agriculture and promoting safe and healthy practices through the harvest season and beyond. We welcome your collaboration and participation.
The Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention and Education was created in late 1995 at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler (UTHSCT) to serve Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas as part of a program initiative of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The initiative established a network of centers, funded on a competitive basis, to conduct programs of research, prevention, intervention, education and outreach designed to reduce occupational injuries and diseases among agricultural workers and their families.
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