Farming and Ranching is Tough
But is it suicide tough? The answer is different for everyone, but according to statistics from the CDC, between 2000 and 2018, rural suicide rates were higher than urban suicide rates, and the difference increased over this time period. The CDC took a closer look at suicide rates by occupational group in 17 states in 2012 and 2015. There were several limitations to this study, but overall, it showed farmers and ranchers, when placed in the occupation of “management,” to be ranked 8th and 6th amongst other occupations, respectively each year. If given their own occupational group, farming and ranching would rank 1st and 3rd, respectively.
As a rancher, these statistics not only frighten me, they make me sad…really, really sad. With point quickly being made with said statistics, rather than continuing down the road of depressing statistics, let’s make a right turn onto action alley.
What can be done to turn these statistics around?
In 2019, the American Farm Bureau Federation conducted a poll of rural Americans to get their thoughts and feedback in an attempt to answer that question. The following statements from this poll provide key information for working towards reducing the unfortunate suicide statistics in farmers and ranchers:
· Farmers/farmworkers believe mental health training for doctors, mental health treatment programs, and the ability to discuss mental health with primary care physicians would be effective in addressing stress and mental health conditions in their community.
· The poll found 2 in 5 farmers/farmworkers feel it is difficult to access a therapist or counselor in their local community, however, when asked about obstacles to seeking help or treatment for a mental health condition, accessibility to treatment wasn’t listed.
· Instead, farmers/farmworkers listed cost of help/treatment, embarrassment, and awareness of mental health as barriers to seeking mental health treatment.
· Farmers/farmworkers listed their primary care doctor, close friends, and therapists as those they would feel most comfortable talking to if dealing with a high level of stress or mental health condition.
· Unfortunately, 1 in 3 farmers/farmworkers would not be comfortable talking to a friend or family member about solutions for a mental health condition.
Based off of these findings, and because September is National Suicide Prevention Month, I want to provide some resources to help reduce suicide statistics in the rural population and more specifically in farmers and ranchers.
Resources
Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-8255
https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/promote-national-suicide-prevention-month/
National Alliance on Mental Illness
https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/suicide-prevention-awareness-month
Farm Crisis Center
Farm Aid
Michael Rossmann, PhD
http://www.agbehavioralhealth.com/index.html
AgriSafe Network
