(NAFB.com) – For the 46 million people living in rural America, the holiday season can present added pressures to an already stressful time of year. In addition to higher rates of depression, suicide rates among people in rural areas are 64 to 68 percent higher compared to people living in large urban areas. Rural Minds is a nonprofit with the vision of a rural America where there’s no more stigma, silence or suffering around mental illness.

Jeff Winton, the Founder and Chairman of Rural Minds, explains how the holidays can increase pressure on families…

“The holidays can be especially stressful for those of us who live on farms. Farming is always a financial roller coaster, with many factors that are out of our control. So when additional financial burdens and expectations are placed on farm families to purchase gifts and entertain during the holidays, this can lead to anxiety and depression. Since many farm families like mine work seven days a week, 365 days of the year, it can be difficult to attend holiday gatherings if they conflict with when livestock should be fed or cows need to be milked.”