Seeds of Suicide: The Alarming Rise in Farmer Suicides and How We Can Address It

Suicide among farmers in 2023 was 3 and a half times higher than the national average (Williamson, 2023). As we look to a future in agriculture, we must choose to talk about this challenging and stigmatized issue. Those who toil to feed our world face a devastating battle within. We as a community, stand on the precipice of this conversation. Beneath the Sun-kissed fields and tranquility of rural life, which we all are fond of, lies a heartbreaking issue at the heart of agriculture. The unfortunately high rate of suicide among agriculturists has impacted our friends, neighbors, loved ones, and communities who give their lives to this rigorous and noble profession.

As the Previous statistic outlined, farmers commit suicide at a rate 3 and a half times higher than the general population. But what are the factors causing this crisis? The University of Illinois has 4 factors they deem as the 4 A’s, accessibility, availability, affordability, and acceptability or stigmatization. (Forrest & Forrest, 2022). The first two go hand in hand. Accessibility and availability are extremely limited to the rural communities that farmers live and work in. A relatively new issue we are facing is rural hospital closures. According to the Sheps Center, 199 hospitals have closed or converted since 2005 (Rural Hospital Closures - Sheps Center, 2023). With hospital shortages, and the already long distance from urban areas with hospitals, universities, and psychiatric practices, to rural homes; These services often seem urban and luxurious for rural people.

Mental health and suicide are only exacerbated by the latter two factors. As viewed by the same paper by the University of Illinois, “Most farmers are independent producers who operate on very thin margins. Mental health care is often considered a luxury or an unnecessary expense.” (Forrest & Forrest, 2022). Affordability is a missive barricade in this fight. We all know how unpredictable the agriculture industry can be. One year you may make a million dollars on a harvest, the next you default on your loan payments. About 85% of commodity crops are insured, but that is still 15% of farmers who are one bad crop away from losing their lives. (Hackett, 2023) The stress of farming and ranching is intense, and whether it be putting food on the table for your kids, or keeping your house, failing is not an option. It is no wonder, why by various accounts of researchers across the country, in their sample size 29.3% of farmers met the criteria for depression, and 27% met the criteria for an anxiety disorder (Bjornestad et al., 2021). Unfortunately, it is even worse compared to younger farmers. In an analysis performed by Doctors of Agriculture and Psychiatry, established that 53% met the criteria for depression, and 71% met the criteria for a generalized anxiety disorder (Rudolphi et al., 2019). Overall, there is a strong correlation and causation between farming and mental illness, especially in younger populations. This becomes integral as stated by a study published in the National Library of Medicine, people with high levels of anxiety and depression are about 55 times more at risk for suicide (Zhang et al., 2019).

Although previous reasons this is such a substantial problem are extensive concerns, the last is the biggest of driving factors, and yet the easiest to fix. Acceptability or stigmatization of mental health care in our industry has been felt by nearly everyone in our lifestyle. In agriculture, we persevere through pain and hardship and often become calloused with an “I’m not allowed to be weak” mindset. Unfortunately, the connotation given to mental health care is extremely negative, from the common phrase “I am not going to a shrink” to an overall less openness to discussions about feelings, hardships, and illness, this stigma has plagued our communities. In small-town communities, people are scared they will be called weak for getting therapy or other support. Luckily, there are signs of change in this aspect, The American Farm Bureau Federation found the stigma around mental health has dropped over recent years, but they still discovered that over 50% of rural adults agree that availability, embarrassment, and stigma are a barrier for seeking mental health care. Overall, the policy report perceived that people feel that mental health is tolerable and are generally accepting of their friends or family coming to them to talk to them and are willing to lend a helping hand. Unfortunately, a large portion still don’t feel that it is okay for them to talk or get help with mental illness.

As members of this great community, we should advocate and stand up for those struggling, and stop the stigma surrounding this issue. Sow the seeds of hope, success, and survival instead of the seeds of suicide. Ignite a collective determination to alleviate their struggles and bring hope back to the fields they tend with such dedication.

As we talk about this issue, remember, that a bad harvest is not a bad farm, and a number in a bank account should never decide if you keep yourself alive another day. Agriculture provides immense joy and discomfort but, in the end, it provides the backbone of our nation and the world and provides the lifeblood to anyone who believes in the future of this industry.

Finally, if you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, stress, depression, or any mental, or emotional crisis call the suicide prevention hotline at 988 or the Farm Aid Hotline at 1-800-Farm-Aid.

Citation:

Williamson, E. (2023). A Death in Dairyland Spurs a Fight Against a Silent Killer. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/19/us/politics/farmer-suicide-depression-wisconsin-rural.html

United States Committee on Agriculture. (2023). Govinfo.gov. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr5246ih/html/BILLS-118hr5246ih.htm

CDC. (2023). FastStats - Suicide and Self-Inflicted Injury. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/suicide.htm

CDC. (2023). FastStats - Homicide.

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/homicide.htm

Eisenreich, R., & Pollari, C. (2017). NRHA Policy Brief. Www.ruralhealth.us. https://www.ruralhealth.us/NRHA/media/Emerge_NRHA/Advocacy/Policy%20documents/NRHA-Policy-Brief-Increases-in-Suicide-Rates-Among-Farmers-in-Rural-America.pdf

Wedell, K. (2020, March 9). Midwest farmers face a crisis. Hundreds are dying by suicide. Usatoday.com; USA TODAY. https://www.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/investigations/2020/03/09/climate-tariffs-debt-and-isolation-drive-some-farmers-suicide/4955865002/

Forrest, S. (2022). What is driving the high suicide rate among farmers? Illinois.edu. https://news.illinois.edu/view/6367/1856210606

Rural Hospital Closures - Sheps Center. (2023, September). Sheps Center. https://www.shepscenter.unc.edu/programs-projects/rural-health/rural-hospital-closures/

Behere, P. B., & Bhise, M. C. (2009). Farmers' suicide: Across culture. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 51(4), 242-243. https://doi.org/10.4103/0019-5545.58286

Hackett, B. (2023, January 19). DON’T HARM CROP INSURANCE, IMPROVE IT! National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition. https://sustainableagriculture.net/blog/dont-harm-crop-insurance-improve-it/#:~:text=While%20more%20than%2085%20percent,at%20all%20by%20the%20program.

Zhang, J., Liu, X., & Fang, L. (2019). Combined effects of depression and anxiety on suicide: A case-control psychological autopsy study in rural China. Psychiatry Research-Neuroimaging, 271, 370–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2018.11.010

Peterson, C., Stone, D. L., Marsh, S. M., Schumacher, P. K., Tiesman, H. M., Wendy LiKamWa McIntosh, Lokey, C. N., Trudeau, A.-R. T., Bartholow, B., & Luo, F. (2018). Suicide Rates by Major Occupational Group — 17 States, 2012 and 2015. 67(45), 1253–1260. https://doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6745a1

Bjornestad, A., Cuthbertson, C., and Hendricks, J. (2021). “An Analysis of Suicide Risk Factors among Farmers in the Midwestern United States.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 18 (7) (March 30): 3563. doi:10.3390/ijerph18073563. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18073563.

Brinton-Wood, D. (2014, June). Suicide. Family Friend Poems; Family Friend Poems. https://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/stigma-of-suicide

https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/BILLS-118hr5246ih/html/BILLS-118hr5246ih.htm

‌