Stress, isolation, and economic uncertainty are just some of the challenges impacting mental health within the agricultural community. May is recognized nationally as Mental Health Awareness Month, a time dedicated to reducing stigma and encouraging open conversations around mental well-being. In response, the Delaware Farm Bureau Promotion and Engagement Committee (P&E) is partnering with the University of Delaware (UD) Cooperative Extension to host a mental health seminar designed to provide the community with practical tools and access to local support resources.
The seminar will be held at the Delaware Agriculture Museum on Wednesday, May 27, 2026, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The event is free and open to anyone seeking ways to support their own mental health or learn how to help others.
During the seminar, attendees will learn practical strategies for recognizing and responding to stress, burnout, and depression in themselves and others. The program will also highlight available resources to encourage engagement with mental health care. The session will feature Maria Pippidis of UD Cooperative Extension and a University of Maryland Extension developed program entitled E “Observe, Engage, Share”, which focuses on understanding mental health and recognizing signs of burnout, stress and depression.
Pippidis is a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Educator Emeritus who has been with UD Cooperative Extension since 1992. Her work has focused on financial management, health insurance literacy, community development, and personal development, with a more recent emphasis on farm stress and farm family resilience.
“Farmers are incredibly resilient, but resilience doesn’t mean facing challenges alone,” said P&E Co-chair Maci Carter. “By bringing this conversation into the open, we’re reminding our agricultural community that support is available and that taking care of mental health is just as important as taking care of the farm.”
Mental health resources will be available for attendees, including 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline stickers that promote immediate access to support for individuals in crisis.
To learn more about Delaware Farm Bureau, visit defb.org. For questions about the seminar, contact DEFB Assistant Executive Director and Marketing Coordinator Mikayla Paul at mikayla.paul@defb.org.
