Sherry Nelson Quotations

We have a real stigma with mental health issues, with asking for help if we're getting depressed. That's true of the general population period, and it may be more true of someone who does farming.

People may say the whole world would be better off without me. That may not sound like a big deal at the time, but that can be a signal that something serious is going on here.

We need to be open. We may need to be patient. It's hard to sit there when somebody is struggling for those words. We often want to jump in and take away the pain. We want to fix it. It may be the best way we can fix it is by listening. People really need to be heard.

Often the straw that broke the camel's back may be pretty little. Somebody may get upset about something that doesn't appear to be related to what's going on at the farm.

If people are seriously depressed, suicide can come up. People may say the whole world would be better off without me. That may not sound like a big deal at the time, but that can be a signal that something serious is going on here. Suicide is very, very preventable. Part of it is just being observant, listening to what people have to say and not pooh-poohing what's going on with them.

A lot of times, people will try harder, will do more. They'll spend longer hours doing something involved with the farming (thinking) if I just try harder, it's going to turn out OK. One risk we run when people work longer hours is a greater chance of injury, maybe taking risks they shouldn't take.