Thank you for your time to participate in this questionnaire to take a look at further information about mental health awareness among farmers, arranged by VSHS FFA member Raine Wheeler. The rest of this document will explain what this survey will entail and what role you will take if you choose to participate in this study. 

Foremost, my reason for conducting this research study is for my agriscience fair project that I will be presenting at the Iowa State Science and Technology fair in March. I hope to gather this information to pinpoint major stress factors and impacts on mental health issues in our local area. By being sent this questionnaire, you are being asked to participate in this study to help me better understand how these factors affect local agriculturalists. Below this will be a consent form to read, and after I will ask you to answer some questions.

The benefit of the research is to find out the most common impacts that affect farmers mental health and how aware farmers are of the resources that are available. The risks of filling this form out are minor but the survey may induce emotional difficulty. You can step out at any time.

If the survey were to cause an emotional reaction, there are resources available like the SAMHSA's National Helpline, this hotline is confidential and open 24/7. They offer 365-day-a-year treatment referral and is an information service for people and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders. The number for the hotline is 1-800-662-HELP (4357)

Participation in this research study is completely voluntary. You have the right to say no as questions being asked may be serious. You can change your mind and withdraw anytime, you can also stop filling this out at any time.

This will be completely confidential, the only people viewing this will be my advisor and I. No identifying information will be taken and I can assure you that you will remain anonymous.

Because this is online, there is always a possibility that information here will be tampered with from an outside source. Your responses and the confidentiality of them will be protected once downloaded, there is still always the chance that security breaches or hacking could threaten the anonymity of your questions. 

If you have any more questions or would like to speak about this further, feel free to email my advisor Gabby Power gabby.power@govikes.org or me, Raine Wheeler 27raine.wheeler@govikes.org (school account) or rainewheeler27@gmail.com (business account)