Farmers, ranchers and agriculture workers in Washington State are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population, according to the National Rural Health Association, citing obstacles such as rising labor costs, failing commodity prices and environmental challenges as just a few of the stressors contributing to this devastating fact. The American Farm Bureau Federation reported that farmers and farmworkers surveyed said financial issues (91%), farm or business problems (88%) and fear of losing the farm (87%) impact farmers’ mental health. Based on the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data and the National Institute of Health’s Suicide Rates by Industry and Occupation Report, for every 100,000 farmers, 47.9–49.9 will not have the resources to manage the profound distress and will end their own life.
In effort to provide resources and bring awareness to the mental health crisis in agriculture, Washington State University has developed the Farm Stress and Suicide Prevention Program. The program, funded by the Washington State Department of Health, improves access to mental health care with free therapy vouchers, provides skill building resources such as financial counseling and peer connection to reduce the stigma attached to mental health concerns. Details can be found in the links provided or the pdf attachments.
If you or someone you know is struggling, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988. In addition, anyone can call or text the AgriStress helpline, at 833-897-2474. Let’s remind our neighbors, friends, co-workers, and loved ones that help is available.
