Suicide Rates High Among Farmers

Tuesday, Dec. 3, 2019

Tifton, Georgia

478-227-7126 ~ www.tiftongrapevine.com

RURAL STRESS

SUICIDE RATES HIGH FOR GEORGIA FARMERS;

UGA WORKING TO OFFER HELP

Georgia farmers face a lot of stress. A 2018 report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC ) reveals that farming, fishing and forestry have the third-highest suicide rate of any occupation.

Among Georgia workers in that occupational group, the suicide rate is 50.7 per 100,000 compared to 14.9 per 100,000 for the overall population of workers, according to the CDC .

"Rural stress" will be discussed at upcoming UGA Extension winter production meetings in Colquitt, Mitchell and Echols counties where resources for addressing rural stress will be available .

“We’ve been working every way we can about how to have this conversation, because no one wants to talk about this. Nobody wants to talk about high stress and the risk of suicide ,” said Anna Scheyett , dean of the University of Georgia School of Social Work .

“But if you don’t talk about it, then how are you going to help people ?”

With suicide rates rising among Georgia farmers , UGA Extension is key to starting the conversation about stress and mental health in rural Georgia , said Andrea Scarrow , UGA Extension Southwest District director.

“ Farm families are the most resilient people we know. They’re used to carrying more day-to-day stress than most people, and they do extremely well with it, but that doesn’t negate the need that goes along with that,” Scarrow said.

Scarrow is part of a coalition of Southwest Georgia partners formed to educate farmers about the negative impact of rural stress . The group includes Extension personnel and administrative leaders from UGA’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences , College of Family and Consumer Sciences , and School of Social Work .

“We need to try to be an encouragement to farmers so when they come in the office and they’re down and out, just try to be positive and keep the conversation positive and upbeat – 'Yeah, it’s tough, but there’s going to be a better day. There’s a better day coming ,' ” said Ronnie Barentine , Southwest District Agriculture and Natural Resources Program development coordinator.

Unfortunately, better days are impossible for farmers to project because Mother Nature is the biggest obstacle . From 2016 through 2018 , Georgia experienced hurricanes for three straight years, with Hurricane Michael causing the most destruction in 2018 .

This year’s weather challenge , a two-month drought in the fall, hindered production for crops like cotton, peanuts and pecans . Commodity prices remain well below what producers desire for their crops. Dealing with all of these external factors inevitably causes farmers stress .

“ Farming is the only profession I can think of where you can do everything right and work 24/7 and make all the best decisions and have all the best equipment , and still go bankrupt, ” said Scheyett . “There’s so much out of your control .”

Please Join

Roberts & Co.

for

Christmas Open House

Thursday, December 5

5-8 p.m.

169 Love Ave., Tifton

The following stores will be open for Christmas Open House.

Come Support Downtown Tifton:

Aero Boutique

Alphabet Soup

Annie's Place

Bula's Antiques

Central Jewelers

Coastal Lifestyle

Cole's Cakery

Klassy Kids

LTD Designs

Little Hippie Chick

Mama Rubye's

House of Style

The Pineapple Post

Railway Freight

Red Letter Gems

Roberts & Co. Jewelers

Southern Pickers

Splash of Style

The Big Store

The Crave

Merry Christmas!

KEVIN HUTTO SEEKING DISTRICT ATTORNEY POST

Kevin Hutto of Tifton has announced his candidacy for district attorney of the Tifton Judicial Circuit , which includes Irwin, Tift, Turner and Worth counties. Hutto is currently an assistant district attorney in the Cordele Judicial Circuit .

Hutto graduated from the Mercer University Walter F. George School of Law in 1994 . A career prosecutor , he said his passion is criminal prosecution . As an assistant district attorney, Hutto has had felony trial experience , successfully prosecuting felonies including shoplifting, murder, armed robbery, rape and child molestation .

“I bring over 22 years of felony jury trial experience to this position. As district attorney, I will have the opportunity to give back to this community by helping to keep it safe and in being able to get justice for the victims of crime ,” Hutto said.

During training of sexual assault nurse examiners, h e has provided instruction on the judicial process , courtroom demeanor and testifying in the prosecution of sexual assault cases.

Since 2012 , Hutto has served on the faculty of the Prosecuting Attorneys Counsel’s Basic Litigation Course . In November 2013 , he completed the National District Attorneys Association Executive Training Program , designed to provide education in the efficient management of a prosecutor’s office.

“My experience working with the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council puts me in a unique position to help train new prosecutors as they come into the office. In addition, I will be prepared from day one to efficiently manage the business side of the district attorney’s office operations, due to the number of years I have already spent in a management position within the office,” Hutto said.

Tifton has been home to Hutto and his family for more than 20 years. He is married to the former Missy Dolphus . They have two daughters , Sarah and Ansley . The Huttos are members of Tifton’s First United Methodist Church , where Kevin is a member of the United Methodist Men, Music Committee, Chancel Choir, Vocal Ensemble and Bluegrass Band.

“The small-town atmosphere and the generosity and kindness that the people have shown to me and my family over the years never ceases to amaze me. This is the place I have chosen to raise my family . And now I want to give back in some small measure the blessings I have been given,” said Hutto .

The election is May 19, 2020 .

LOOK QUICK: IT'S QUEEN LATIFAH STROLLING DOWN 12th STREET

A woman strolling down Tifton's 12th Street early Tuesday afternoon may have looked familiar – it was Oscar nominee Queen Latifah , in town filming "The Tiger Rising" movie at Tifton's Town Terrace "pink" motel .

Queen Latifah , who is an executive producer of the film, portrays a mysterious maid at the motel , run by a grumpy character played by actor Dennis Quaid . The movie , based on a popular children's book , is being filmed in Tifton and Thomasville .

The area in front of the motel on 12th Street is closed to traffic when filming is underway .

'HOUSES OF HOPE' PLAYHOUSES TO BENEFIT

HOMELESS WOMEN MINISTRY

The TiftArea House of Hope , a non-profit organization serving homeless women , is selling tickets for a chance to win a playhouse to benefit the group's ministry .

The tickets are $10 each. The "Houses of Hope" playhouses this year are being built by the Tifton Fire Department , by Northside Baptist Church's men's ministry , and by Dane and Todd Green . The playhouses are on display at the Tifton Mall , where the drawing will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 14 .

Tickets are available at the mall and online by Clicking Here . For information , call 229-382-9010 or 229-520-1604 .

The TiftArea House of Hope serves women experiencing homelessness in the Tift County area by providing safe and secure housing. The organization's mission is to improve the lives of homeless women by providing, in addition to the basic needs of food and shelter , life/job skills training , GED preparation and Bible studies , enabling them to achieve greater independence and self-sufficiency .

TIFT REGIONAL URGES FLU SHOTS, SETS VISITATION RESTRICTIONS

Tift Regional Health System/Southwell urges residents to get a flu shot to help stay healthy during the influenza season and to observe a visitor restriction policy going into effect Dec. 16 at Tift Regional Medical Center in Tifton and Southwell Medical in Adel .

“We need the community’s help in minimizing the spread of the flu ,” said Mary Key , TRHS director of infection prevention.

“Flu vaccination can reduce flu illnesses , visits to the doctor and absent days at work and school due to the flu. It can also prevent flu-related hospitalizations . The visitor restrictions at Tift Regional Medical Center and Southwell Medical, including Southwell Health and Rehabilitation, are necessary to help protect our patients and healthcare providers ," she said.

Key said the health system is requesting that those under age 14 not visit the hospital facilities during the flu season . People over age 14 who are sick are asked not come to the hospitals or nursing home as well.

In addition to a flu shot, Key said there are other ways to help limit the spread of influenza , including avoiding close contact with those are ill; staying home when sick; covering one's mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing; washing hands frequently; and avoiding touching eyes, nose and mouth .

The four members inducted into the Sigma Gamma Rho colony at ABAC include, from left, Jireh Jones, Brittney Burks, advisor Sharon Daniels, Jhonelle Chambers, and Alysha Stubbs.

SIGMA GAMMA RHO SORORITY COMES TO ABAC

With the induction of four members, Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority has colonized at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in hopes of being a chartered chapter during the spring semester .

Sigma Gamma Rho is a social and service sorority established in 1922 . The sorority has more than 85,000 members with chapters in the U.S., Canada, Bahamas , the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Germany and Korea . Its mission is “to enhance the quality of life for women and their families in the U.S. and globally through community service, civil, and social action.”

Sigma Gamma Rho’s new members include Alysha Stubbs , a rural and community development major from Bainbridge ; Jireh Jones , a pre-professional biology major from Miami, Fla. ; Jhonelle Chambers , a writing and communications major from Malvern, Jamaica; and Brittney Burks , a biology health sciences major from Baxley .

Sharon Daniels is Sigma Gamma Rho’s undergraduate advisor . Daniels is a member of the Kappa Psi Sigma alumnae chapter in Valdosta and has been a member of the organization for 23 years. The ABAC campus advisor is Tina Woods , a new inductee of the Kappa Psi Sigma chapter.