May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Farmers have one high stress job. I have a very good friend that not only grew up on a farm, but she now is a farmer's wife. She works for our area mental health clinic and today she shares some startling statistics about farmers. Please read this one!!
Farming and agricultural jobs are considered to be one of
the most dangerous jobs in the United States.
This danger is not just about getting hurt in the field! Did you know that the suicide rate of agricultural
workers is between two and three times greater than the national average?
Being a farm daughter, wife, and Mom who also works as a
mental health professional for a Community Mental Health Center, I find this
statistic especially alarming. Equally
alarming is the fact that the mental health of agricultural workers and their
families represents one of the most neglected areas of research and service
provision.
When looking at the national average for suicide completion
rates, non-farm males make approximately five suicide attempts, while farm
males make only three. For women, those
not involved in farming make twenty five attempts to the farm woman’s
three. Most of you can probably give the
name of a farmer that you know who took his or her own life.
Why is this happening?
The environment that a farmer works in is very conducive to stress,
which if not handled appropriately, can lead to more severe mental health
issues. As I type this, it is May 3, and
it snowed yesterday. The weather is
beyond anyone’s control. Farmers are
often one freeze/rain/windstorm, etc. away from a total crop failure, no matter
how hard the farmer worked.
Many people involved in agricultural professions are
aging. In 2007, the average age of the
principal farm operator in the US was 57.
As people age, they find themselves unable to do some of the physical
labor that they once could. This creates
challenges in any profession, especially on the farm.
Also, if you think about many of the farmers you know, they
have one hobby and this is farming.
Farming is often more than a profession; it is a way of life. What happens when that person is no longer
physically able to work on the farm. I
will often hear my Dad say of others, “When he can’t farm anymore, he will
die”. This statement is true on many
levels.
Agricultural professions often tend to be solitary
professions. Most farmers don’t spend
much time talking with others about their feelings. Any signs of sadness or anxiety can be perceived
as weakness in the eyes of the farmer,
and as we all know, farmers are not people who want to be seen as weak.
Access to health care is another issue in rural areas. In many parts of the country, your nearest
mental health center is farther away than your nearest hospital. Top that off with the stigma surrounding
mental health treatment. Very few people
getting mental health services are clinically “insane”, but popular culture
fails to recognize this. Many farmers
also lack health insurance coverage that will reimburse for mental health
services. Medicare and commercial
insurances to cover some services, however the copay for these services can be
difficult to pay, especially when finances are already tight.
So, what can you do about this?
Often, people show many signs of suicide before
acting. These signs include:
- talk of harming one’s self,
- expressions of feeling hopeless,
- saying things like “everybody would be better off without me”,
- sudden need to tie up loose ends, and
- contacting friends and relatives to say goodbye.
Most importantly, though, be sure to have conversations
about mental health matters with your loved ones! Often times, this is what encourages someone
to get help for themselves! If you are
worried about them, have them call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline or
refer them to you local Community Mental Health Center. Mental health treatment works!
From a fellow Kansas Farm Mom to you, don’t let your
favorite agricultural worker suffer!
Thank you so much to Kelly for sharing this with everyone! Please use her advice and help those that need it. If you need help, call and get help it will not be seen as a sign of weakness. It takes a strong person to admit when they need help. Kelly also wrote a second post 1,2,3 is it me?
Don't believe her that farmers only know how to farm? See what we do when we aren't in the fields here, here and here.
Check out another farm families story of dealing with depression at Cow Spots and Tales here.
Big Sky FarmHer also shared her story about Postpartum Depression.
This is the second post I have done that could truly save a life. Please share with you friends and check out my post of HELLP Syndrome.
- A Kansas Farm Mom
Don't believe her that farmers only know how to farm? See what we do when we aren't in the fields here, here and here.
Check out another farm families story of dealing with depression at Cow Spots and Tales here.
Big Sky FarmHer also shared her story about Postpartum Depression.
This is the second post I have done that could truly save a life. Please share with you friends and check out my post of HELLP Syndrome.
- A Kansas Farm Mom
As a farm wife myself I want to say thanks for your post. I was planning on blogging about mental health this month, and your post will be a great link to share. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteYou are welcome and let me know when you have your post up & I will link to it from this post as well. :).
DeleteThis crazy spring weather has really worked on all farmers state of mind. I am.thankful I have friends that help those who need it.
Have a great week!
What an important post! Thank you for sharing this. Farmers are at the mercy of so many variables, it is understandable why some would feel helpless or depressed.
ReplyDeleteI think this is the most important post I have ever shared! Unfortunately, I can't get many of my farmer friends to share it. Maybe it is a little too close to home for them.
DeleteVery interesting thoughts about farmers mental health and their
ReplyDeleteconditions....thanks for sharing.
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