LYSITE, Wyo. (AP)--Leslie Hendry lives 75 miles from Casper on her family ranch near Lysite.

Shopping and socializing are an hour-and-a-half drive. The nearest neighbor is five miles away.

Her older son is away at college, and her younger boy, a high school freshman, has to ride a school bus three hours a day, not getting back until supper time.

During busy seasons, like calving, Hendry works outside with her husband and the hired men. But right now, she's inside, dealing with the piles of paperwork needed to run the business of a ranch.

All day, alone, without even the radio on for company.

That's how she likes it.

"I'm just home, and that would probably drive some people nuts," she said.

Ranch women have long dealt with the mental stress and sometimes depression that comes from isolation and the pressures of the agricultural economy. While they say they love the work and wouldn't want another career, some acknowledge one of the downsides: loneliness.

To an extent, they say, technology like e-mail and digital cable are keeping them better connected to the world beyond their fence lines, but they still rely on old-fashioned coping skills: a phone call to a friend, a monthly meeting with a women's group where they can get together with other ranch wives who can relate.

"Not everybody can live in this situation," Hendry said. Even someone like her who grew up ranching, Hendry allowed, "If I didn't have outside contact I would go stir-crazy."

Maureen Lutterman, a private-practice counselor in Laramie, has studied isolation and depression affecting rural women.

She convened groups of ranch wives for conversations about the mental health issues they face last summer during stockgrowers association conventions in Wyoming and Montana.

Of the wives in 22 families she studied, she said, nearly half had encountered depression. She said that reflects findings in other, larger studies done around the country.

"It is a serious issue," she said.

Social isolation, the stress of a fluctuating economy and a reluctance to seek help all can contribute to the problem.

"There are some burdens and challenges unique to ranching families," said Jim Magagna, Wyoming Stockgrowers Association executive vice president.

Ranchers are known for their rugged independence, an asset in their career but a trait that may make them reluctant to seek help, he said.

"It's no different--if the tractor's broke down, you try to fix it yourself, you don't run to the garage," Magagna said.

Affordable health care is also an issue, something he said the association was working to solve, possibly through a group health care plan.

Depression and isolation "could have a negative impact on the industry," he said, if they discourage children from returning home to work on the family ranch.

Hendry agreed ranchers aren't quick to seek medical help, especially for mental illness.

"For them to admit they have a problem, they don't do that," she said.

She's heavily involved with agriculture organizations, and says, "I don't really get lonely."

Other "ranch wives" described why they love the difficult work and how they avoid depression.

"We're not any different than any other women," said Peggy Price, who with her husband runs her family's ranch southwest of Casper near Alcova. "We certainly have times we feel lonely or isolated or alone or all those things."

On the other hand, she said, "I don't think I've ever felt trapped. I love what I do and it's a wonderful way to raise a family. You work side by side with the people that you admire and love."

Price and some friends organized the Women in Agriculture Club over a decade ago. They put on serious educational programs--speakers have touched on first aid, drought and beef prices--but it's also a sorority of sorts.

Meetings are a place women can relate to each other, where they can talk about how they not only work right alongside the men, but are then expected to have dinner ready for the crew.

Lutterman, who interviewed ranch families for her study, said involvement in clubs and social activities helps prevent depression. So do outdoor recreation and a strong spiritual life, she said.

She also advised women take signs of depression seriously, saying rural women may not realize they are suffering from depression. They may not go to the doctor until their problems show up as physical symptoms: headaches, allergies, or fainting spells.

Price said Women in Ag gives the ranch wives what many wives say they'd like: a pat on the back.

"You don't get a lot of attaboys," she said. "We wanted a chance to give other women the chance to feel special."

Date: 4/21/05