Assisting Workers Facing Multifaceted Stressors
Workers in Rhode Island’s farming, fisheries, and forestry sectors grapple with a myriad of stressors, including the repercussions of climate change, labor challenges, financial constraints, and stringent regulations.
For years, individuals in these industries have encountered limited access to essential support—be it financial, emotional, or physical.
Addressing this critical need, a novel initiative by Land & Sea Together has emerged, striving to revolutionize the support system available to these workers.
According to the organization’s website, “Farmers and fishermen are among the professions most likely to commit suicide each year, and many more folks suffer silently as they tend their crops, equipment, and vessels.”
Land & Sea seeks to alleviate stress and fortify mental and financial resilience within Rhode Island’s fisheries, forestry, and farming communities by establishing a collaborative network of support services.
Launched in June 2022 with an initial $500,000 grant from the USDA, the Land & Sea program operates under the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and is executed by the Center for Collaboration and Mediation RI, based in Warwick.
It was prompted by the recognition that workers in the state’s agriculture, forestry, and fishing sectors face excessive stress with limited avenues for recourse.
Understanding the Challenges Faced
To grasp the challenges faced by these communities, Land & Sea conducted a comprehensive needs assessment, released in December of the previous year.
The exhaustive 90-page report combined existing industry data, surveys among industry workers about stress factors, and a focus group comprising workers and owners from these sectors.
The report shed light on the daunting reality of being a farmer, fisherman, or forestry worker in Rhode Island.
Key stressors identified across the three industries included financial management concerns, business operations in small enterprises, climate change impacts, weather unpredictability.
They also include labor shortages, succession planning difficulties, limited resource access, transportation barriers, housing challenges, extended working hours during peak seasons, and regulatory compliance issues.
Hurdles Across Industries
Farmers, often working where they reside, highlighted the challenges of maintaining boundaries between work and family life, resulting in conflicts.
They also emphasized heightened stress levels during the growing season, aggravated by unpredictable weather patterns.
Meanwhile, fishing industry workers cited heavy workloads, time constraints, lack of support due to isolated work conditions, and the disruptive effects of climate change as primary stressors.
Employers within these sectors struggled to secure reliable workers, partly due to inadequate public transportation and retention issues during winter.
The forestry and agriculture domain faced similar hiring challenges, with Rhode Island farms operating with only a quarter of the necessary workforce.
Barriers to Seeking Help
A significant hurdle identified was the lack of mental health resources coupled with reluctance among workers to seek assistance.
Some employers were unaware of available mental health resources for their staff, while others mentioned job constraints such as inflexible schedules, unpaid leave, and inadequate insurance as deterrents to seeking help.
Notably, individuals in the fisheries industry exhibited pronounced reluctance to seek aid.
The report highlighted a prevailing perception among sea industry workers as resilient individuals who view seeking help as a sign of weakness.
Land & Sea’s Supportive Initiatives
The Land & Sea program offers a 24-hour helpline and up to 12 free counseling sessions through Coastline EAP, a Rhode Island-based employee assistance program, for workers and their families in these sectors.
Since its launch, the initiative has aided 60 workers, providing 286 hours of support encompassing free outpatient services and financial counseling.
Micro-grants covering various needs like childcare, legal fees, tax services, and wellness services such as massage therapy and gym memberships have been disbursed, totaling over 150 grants.
Additionally, Land & Sea facilitates farm succession and transition planning, mediates disputes between farmers and neighbors, and collaborates with non-profit organizations offering financial planning, legal resources, and conflict resolution workshops.
Unique Aspects and Future Outlook
Rhode Island’s Land & Sea initiative stands out by encompassing fisheries and aquaculture within its support framework.
However, future federal funding remains uncertain, tied to the passage of the 2023 farm bill.
Witri emphasized the importance of consistent funding to sustain mental health services and address stressors among farmers, fishers, and foresters.
As workers in these industries continue to grapple with multifaceted stressors, the Land & Sea Together initiative remains a beacon of hope, striving to provide essential support and foster resilience within Rhode Island’s agriculture, fishing, and forestry communities.
