Farms can be dangerous, and many of us know of someone who was injured or killed in a farm accident. When one happens, the rural community rallies around the family and provides support, leading many farms to focus on safety, especially before harvest. 

But farming is dangerous due to not only the physical risks of dealing with equipment, but also the mental health risks of dealing with multiple stressors in agriculture. 

Data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show farmers are over three times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.  

Suicides also shake the family and rural community. But even in those instances, rarely are mental health conditions such as stress, anxiety and substance abuse addressed. 

What makes managing the farmer’s mental health so tough? 

While I’m not a psychiatrist, here are several observations from talks with clients dealing with mental health challenges:  

Isolation. Many farmers work alone. Even if they have employees, they aren’t readily available for deep discussions about mental health. Other than a spouse, a farmer rarely has someone to talk with at work. 

Lack of privacy. Farmers live in close-knit communities where news travels quickly. No one would think twice about being seen by neighbors in a cardiologist’s waiting room, but being seen outside the door of a mental health professional brings a level of discomfort due to the stigma surrounding mental health challenges. Let’s face it. People talk in a small town.  

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Culture of grit. Farming is tough, and requires grit and perseverance. While these are admirable traits, mental health is not fixed by gritting it out.  

Self-reliance. As a farm owner, people look to you daily to fix problems, know the answers and accomplish big things. It’s not easy asking for help and admitting you don’t have the answer. 

External stressors. Farming has unique stressors that are often beyond your control. Finances, weather, markets and long hours all chip away at mental reserves. 

No easy fix. Solutions to recharge aren’t always possible. Taking time away from livestock or harvest isn’t possible. The stress of taking a few days off creates more worry about what is going on back home. Changing jobs isn’t possible because so much rests on your shoulders. The bank needs to be paid, and the grain must be marketed.  

Time to talk 

I see the pain and hear the stories from around kitchen tables and boardrooms. As a profession, we need to talk to each other and ask how we deal with stress. As families who work in a business together, we need to encourage time off. Some farms mandate a rolling time-off schedule of a couple of days, even during harvest.  

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For example, every employee must take two consecutive days off each month to rest and recharge. Some farms pay for a local health professional to field calls from their employees at no cost to the employee. It’s discreet and can be done from the tractor cab.  

Also, delegate responsibility and authority to others. While creating a solid team around you will not fix the weather or the markets, it can help you spread out your load. 

Most importantly, we need to be honest about the stress we are feeling. We need to pay attention to how our co-workers, our family and ourselves are holding up. Not always, but often, there are signs if we pay attention.  

Finally, the farming profession needs to bring mental health out of the shadows. We need to discuss it at employee meetings, family councils and other events. We must search and use our local resources among family, church and the medical community.  

As you grow crops to feed the world, take stock of your mental health and those around you. You, your family, your employees and your business will all be better for it.  

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