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The following information is provided by Nationwide, the No. 1 farm and ranch insurer
in the U.S.*
Farmers embody independence, resilience and strength. However, in the face of a mental health crisis, these very attributes can lead to devastating outcomes. A farmer might appear fine on the surface yet be struggling with profound internal turmoil. And discussing a farmer’s mental well-being is often met with difficulty.
This situation underscores a critical call to action for all of us to remain vigilant about the mental health of farmers. We must learn to recognize the signs of distress and be prepared to help. Also, if you’re the one who needs support, remember it’s totally okay to ask for help.
Factors impacting mental health in agriculture
Farmers have the highest rate of suicide than any other occupation in the U.S., according to the Suicide Prevention Resource Center. There are a range of specific factors that contribute to the trend of farmer suicide, including:
- Social isolation.
- Advanced age.
- Chronic medical conditions.
- Farm financial stressors.
- Long hours and fatigue.
- Weather.
“Farmers and ranchers in the U.S. have demanding jobs that are often compounded by economic uncertainty, vulnerability to weather events and isolation,” according to a report from the Rural Health Information Hub. “Rural agricultural communities may also have limited access to health care and mental health services, which can make it difficult for farm and ranch families to receive support when they are experiencing extreme stress, anxiety, depression or another mental health crisis.”
Overcoming mental health stigmas
The stigma around mental health, especially within the farming community, often equates weakness, preventing many farmers with depression from seeking help. It’s vital to overcome this stigma to create a supportive environment where mental health can be openly addressed without fear.
Overcoming this stigma falls upon the shoulders of family, friends, loved ones and the broader community—and it begins with open and honest communication.
“The most effective tactic is pretty simple: Shut up and listen,” according to Ted Matthews, psychologist and director of Minnesota Rural Mental Health. “Think about when you’re stressed and want to talk to someone; are you asking someone for advice or just to have them listen to you? Ninety-nine percent of the time, we just want people to listen to us.”
Coping and communication tactics
In communicating with a farmer or rancher who you feel could be near his or her “breaking point,” Matthews recommends the following:
LISTEN. Often, the best path to a life-saving resolution starts with listening intently and showing you’re doing so. “Communication is a two-way street,” he said. “Listen, then think about how you respond.”
ASK QUESTIONS. This is not only a way to show you’re listening, but it also helps someone experiencing severe anxiety to open up and become more engaged in a conversation that can yield positive results.
DON’T JUMP TO CONCLUSIONS OR “DUMB DOWN” FEELINGS. Always keep an open mind when starting a farmer mental health conversation. Also, recognize it’s rarely a simple, “black and white” conversation. “There is nothing more complex in this universe than human emotion, so we always like to dumb it down to whether someone is happy or sad, up or down,” Matthews said.
ENCOURAGE SELF-CARE. Farmers can sometimes be their own toughest critics. When a mental health crisis is underway, that can be severely damaging. Encourage them to instead care for themselves. “When I ask farmers what it means to be nice, they rarely ever mention being nice to themselves,” Matthews said. “That needs to be a primary thought, but farmers aren’t good at that.”
AVOID COMPASSION FATIGUE. It can be easy to neglect one’s own mental wellness when helping a fellow farmer, friend or family member with his or her own mental health crisis. Make sure you account for your own mental health as you provide attention and energy to others.
Visit AgInsightCenter.com for more resources and expert tips to help you run a successful business and maintain the safety of your operation.
Mental health resources
Are you dealing with anxiety or depression? Are you concerned for the life of a loved one or friend who may be depressed?
Call or text 988
*A.M. Best Market Share Report 2023. Nationwide, the Nationwide N and Eagle, and Nationwide is on your side are service marks of Nationwide Mutual Insurance Company. © 2024 Nationwide
My first recommendation in your journey is to start out with a local farming friend or mentor along with joining an organization like Ohio Farm Bureau.
We’re just so thankful for the Farm Bureau and the foundation for helping put this together. And of course, the Boyert family for the vision they had with this grant. It’s jumping us forward 10 years. It’s unbelievable.
I could not have done it without the resources I have found through Farm Bureau.
It wasn’t until I joined the Wilmington College Collegiate Farm Bureau that I truly saw how my passion could translate into leadership, advocacy and a career.
The issue of property taxation remains as one of the biggest challenges our members face today. Ensuring agricultural property is valued for its agricultural potential and not development is critical to the continued success of Ohio agriculture.
Through the Select Partner program, we became educated in farm insurance and weren't just selling policies. It became more and more clear why farmers need an advocate like Ohio Farm Bureau.
So many of the issues that OFBF and its members are advocating for are important to all Ohioans. I look at OFBF as an agricultural watchdog advocating for farmers and rural communities across Ohio.
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