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The Impacts of COVID-19 on Agriculture, Farmers, Family and Community

Apr. 21 2020 Community By Cathie Hartung

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Everyone reacts differently to stressful situations.

If somebody had told you last year that that our country, along with the whole world, would soon be facing a major health challenge like the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, you’d have thought it almost unimaginable. Yet here we are.

To help flatten the pandemic’s deadly curve, a great many of us have been asked to remain at home or practice “social distancing.” While helping to protect ourselves, our families and others, this physical distancing can affect our mental well-being.

Below is some information from the American Farm Bureau Federation President, Zippy Duvall: 

There is a lot beyond our control and still unknown as we face this crisis, but we can focus on and be faithful with the tasks at hand. For farmers and ranchers our calling hasn’t changed: we are committed to rising every day to grow the food we all depend on. But we can’t do that work alone. It takes all of us safely working across the supply chain from the workers harvesting crops to the grocery store employees stocking shelves.

 Empty shelves can be frightening, but empty fields and barns would be devastating. 

Times like these remind us all of the importance of ensuring our nation’s food security, and we want to assure Americans that agriculture remains on call 24/7. I am reminded of and grateful for the tireless hours farmers and ranchers put in all year long to supply healthy, affordable food to be processed and packaged so stores can restock shelves, produce bins, and meat and dairy cases.  

Like you, I am praying for a quick end to this pandemic. I also have faith that great stories of service, of neighbors helping neighbors and communities working together (even from a distance) to protect one another will shine brightly across this country.

Please visit the AFBF’s page on Latest Updates to learn more about how farmers can be prepared for issues related to COVID-19.

Know the facts to help reduce stress

Sharing the facts about COVID-19. Understanding the risk to yourself and people you care about can make an outbreak less stressful.

When you share accurate information about COVID-19, you can help make people feel less stressed and make a connection with them.

  1. Reducing Stigma and Stop the Spread of Rumors
       
  2. Take care of  your mental health
    1. Call your healthcare provider if stress gets in the way of your daily activities for several days in a row.
         
  3. For parents
    1. Children  and teens react, in part, on what they see from the adults around  them. When parents and caregivers deal with the COVID-19 calmly and confidently, they can provide the best support for their children. Parents can be more reassuring to others around them, especially children, if they are better prepared.
             
    2. Watch for behavior changes in your child
         
  4. For people  at higher risk for serious illness
    1.  People at higher risk for severe illness, such as older adults, and people with underlying health conditions are also at increased risk of stress due to COVID-19. Special considerations include:
             
    2. Older adults and people with disabilities are at increased risk for having mental health concerns, such as depression.        
             
    3. Older adults because depression can be mistaken for a normal part of aging.
         
  5. Mental health problems can present as physical complaints (such as headaches or stomachaches) or cognitive problems (such as having trouble concentrating).
    1. Doctors may be more likely to miss mental health concerns among people with disabilities due to a focus on treating underlying health conditions, compared to people without disabilities.
         

Common reactions to COVID-19    

  • Concern about protecting oneself from the virus because they are at higher risk of serious illness.

  • Concern that regular medical care or community services may be disrupted due to facility closures or reductions in services and public transport closure.    

  • Feeling socially isolated, especially if they live alone or are in a community setting that is not allowing visitors because of the     outbreak.   

  • Guilt if loved ones help them with activities of daily living.

  • Increased levels of distress if they:

    • Have mental health concerns before the outbreak, such as depression.

    • Live in lower-income households or have language barriers

    • Experience stigma because of age, race or ethnicity, disability, or perceived likelihood of spreading COVID-19.

          

Support your loved ones

Check in with your loved ones often. Virtual communication can help you and your loved ones feel less lonely and isolated. Consider connecting with loved ones by:    

  • Telephone  

  • Email 

  • Mailing letters or cards

  • Text messages

  • Video chat

  • Social media


Help keep your loved ones safe.

  • Know what  medications your loved one is taking. Try to help them have a 4-week supply of prescription and over the counter medications. and see if you can help them have extra on hand.

  • Monitor other medical supplies (oxygen, incontinence, dialysis, wound care) needed and create a back-up plan.

  • Stock up on non-perishable food (canned foods, dried beans, pasta) to have on hand in your home to minimize trips to stores.

  • If you care for a loved one living in a care facility, monitor the situation, and speak with facility administrators or staff over the phone. Ask about the health of the other residents frequently and know the     protocol if there is an outbreak


Take care of your own emotional health. Caring for a loved one can take an emotional toll, especially during an outbreak like COVID-19. There are ways to support yourself.

Stay home if you are sick. Do not visit family or friends who are at greater risk for severe illness from COVID-19. Use virtual communication to keep in touch to support your loved one and keep them safe.

What communities can do

Community preparedness planning for COVID-19 should include older adults and people with disabilities, and the organizations that support them in their communities, to ensure their needs are taken into consideration.   

  • Many of these individuals live in the community, and many depend on services and supports provided in their homes or in the community to maintain their health and independence.    

  • Long-term  care facilities should be vigilant to prevent the introduction and spread of COVID-19. See guidance for long-term care facilities and nursing homes.

For responders

Responding to COVID-19 can take an emotional toll on you, and you may experience secondary traumatic stress. Secondary traumatic stress is stress reactions and symptoms resulting from exposure to another individual’s traumatic experiences, rather than from exposure directly to a traumatic event.

There are things you can do to reduce secondary traumatic stress reactions:

  • Acknowledge that secondary traumatic stress can impact anyone helping families after a traumatic event.

  • Learn the symptoms including physical (fatigue, illness) and mental (fear, withdrawal, guilt).

  • Allow time for you and your family to recover from responding to the pandemic.

  • Create a menu of personal self-care activities that you enjoy, such as spending time with friends and family, exercising, or reading a book.

  • Take a break from media coverage of COVID-19.

  • Ask for help if you feel overwhelmed or concerned that COVID-19 is affecting your ability to care for your family and patients as you did before the outbreak.


For people coming out of quarantine

It can be stressful to be separated from others if a healthcare provider thinks you may have been exposed to COVID-19, even if you do not get sick. Everyone feels differently after coming out of quarantine.

Emotional reactions to coming out of quarantine may include

  • Mixed emotions, including relief after quarantine

  • Fear and worry about your own health and the health of your loved ones 

  • Stress from the experience of monitoring yourself or being monitored by others for signs and symptoms of COVID-19

  • Sadness, anger, or frustration because friends or loved ones have unfounded fears of contracting the disease from contact with you, even though you have been determined not to be contagious

  • Guilt about not being able to perform normal work or parenting duties during quarantine    

  • Other emotional or mental health changes

Children may also feel upset or have other strong emotions if they, or someone they know, has been released from quarantine.

Learn more tips for taking care of yourself during emergency response.


Farm Resources

Below are resources and communications tools to help farmers and their employees continue to work safely and prevent the spread of COVID-19 in rural communities. Please contact your local Farm Bureau for up-to-date guidance and state-specific resources.

Stress and Mental Health

Safety Guidelines

Additional Information

USD Contacts 



SOURCES:

American Farm Bureau Federation: Impact of COVID-19 on Agriculture https://www.fb.org/land/impact-covid19-on-ag

Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/managing-stress-anxiety.html