Working with Distressed Clientele

We all experience stress in our lives. Stress affects everyone differently, and the way we cope varies from person to person. When faced with a crisis, the level of stress escalates significantly. A crisis is any event that produces stress beyond what regular coping skills can handle.

A crisis can come in many forms. Individuals who face a disaster-related crisis include farmers who have lost crops, businesspeople who have damaged inventory and a drop in business or fewer customers, and families who have lost personal belongings.

Many people also face personal and family-related crises. A chronic, persistent stressor can lead to a crisis when a person no longer can cope. The source of stress may vary, but in a crisis, everyone struggles to cope.

Do you know someone who is having trouble coping? Whether you are a family member, neighbor, elevator worker, agriculture professional, clergy member or other business/community person, you can help!

*Remember Never swear to secrecy or leave a suicidal person alone. If a person is suicidal, seek help immediately.

Positive Methods

• Spiritual Mental
• Commitment Time management
• Prayer Problem solving
• Faith Life planning
• Surrender Relabeling
• Valuing Organizing
• Worship Imagination
• Physical Diversion
• Relaxation Learning
• Music Nourishment
• Self-care Work
• Exercise Getaways
• Stretching Hobbies
• Play Biofeedback
• Family Interpersonal
• Balancing Affirmation
• Connection Togetherness
• Flexibility Sharing feelings
• Networking Esteem building
• Linking Assertiveness
• Limits Conflict resolution

Negative Methods

• Indulging Tobacco use
• Revenge Withdrawal
• Tantrums Alcohol misuse
• Fault finding Unhealthy eating
• Worrying Passivity
• Denial Stubbornness
• Illness Drug misuse

How many positive or negative methods do you use?

How many do you see in others?

❏ Sense of urgency or pressure — no time to relax or find the root of the problem

❏ Constant sense of frustration or too much to do

❏ Explosive arguments

❏ Isolation, withdrawing from others

❏ Abuse of alcohol or other chemicals

❏ Little time together

❏ Conversations center on time and tasks rather than people and feelings

❏ Sense of guilt, loss

❏ Little enjoyment from family life

Everyone experiences setbacks from time to time. To adjust to setbacks:

❏ Avoid trying to control the uncontrollable, such as the weather, markets.

❏ Avoid trying to blame someone or something for problems. Blaming and other acts of anger only make things worse.

❏ Look for some meaning, some new sense of direction.

❏ Avoid being too quick to judge the outcomes.

❏ Know you are not alone! Reach out to others.

❏ Get your emotions out. Talk and talk, and talk some more. Don’t bottle things up inside and explode later. Open your mouth and your heart. Let go of the past and move forward.

❏ Avoid making assumptions about why something occurred. Stick to known facts.

❏ Keep a sense of humor!

Prolonged, persistent stress can lead to symptoms of depression. A farmer dealing with ongoing financial stress, for example, could be at risk of developing clinical depression.

Depression is one of the most under-recognized and undertreated conditions in any state. Depression tends to be higher among rural populations dealing with stress, such as farm and ranch families, but individuals who seek supportive resources typically recover well.

Financial stress is often a key factor in the high rates of depression that people experience. Financial stress elevates the chance of depression. Yet, farm operators are often less willing to seek help from professionals than from informal resources.

Untreated depression impairs a person’s ability to function and can increase the risk of health problems and suicide. Depression is an example of a mental health issue that often is masked by working excessive hours, isolation, and increased use of alcohol and drugs. Men are less likely to admit to depression and doctors are less likely to suspect it.

Farmers are a hardy, self-reliant bunch. This also is true of others in agriculture and several other professions. That self-reliant spirit comes from finding creative solutions to hardships and the normal day-to-day challenges. The long work hours inherent in the job can create and add stress that leads to burnout. In the end, this can make reaching out for help hard for these individuals.

1. Listen

2. Respond

3. Refer and/or tell a family member

Be a “front-line” responder. You can play a significant role in helping those who struggle with depression or who may be at risk for suicide. You don’t have to be a trained counselor to make a difference. You just have to be brave enough to approach the person and let him or her know you care. As a friend or family member, you are one of the few who will be able to notice a change in the person and provide help as needed.

One in five people will be affected by a mental health problem each year. However, depression is one of the most treatable medical conditions that can strike anyone at any age. Treatment can alleviate symptoms in 80 percent of cases and foster recovery and stability.

Life involves many risks and setbacks. But no problem is so great that you and the person you’re concerned about cannot handle it together.

You can make a difference.

Resources for depression and/or suicide risk:

❏ Call 211: Statewide 24-hour helpline, health and human services information and referral.

❏ Refer to a local health-care provider or local mental health professional. If you meet resistance, suggest and accompany the person to a professional you know. Some examples might be: clergy members, medically trained personnel, hospital emergency room personnel, law enforcement agencies/personnel, school counselors, social workers.

❏ National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Available 24 hours a day – Call or text 988 24-hour crisis intervention if you or someone you know are having suicidal thoughts. In an emergency, call 911.

Chen, D. D. (2017). Stress Management and Prevention: Applications to Daily Life, 3rd ed. Routledge.

McSparron, W. Depression and Help-Seeking Behavior of North Dakota Farmers, Dissertation Research, University of North Dakota, 2002.

Olpin, M., and Hesson, M. (2020). Stress Management for Life: A Research-based Experiential Approach, 5th ed. Cengage Learning.

Reviewed and revised by Sean Brotherson, Jan. 2023

(original completed in 1993) by Wanda McSparron, Ph.D., Concordia College Counseling Psychologist, and Deb Gebeke, Ph.D., NDSU Extension Service

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