The Deepening Crisis of Farmer Suicide

Farmers face unique mental health challenges, including financial uncertainty, unpredictable weather, crop or livestock losses, long working hours, social isolation, and pressure to maintain a family livelihood. These stressors can contribute to anxiety, depression, burnout, and substance use. Suicidal thoughts and behaviors are a serious concern among many agricultural workers, particularly during periods of severe economic or environmental stress. Barriers such as stigma, limited access to mental health services, and rural isolation can make it harder to seek help.

U.S. data show that agriculture is an occupation with comparatively high suicide mortality, although national statistics usually group farmers with fishing and forestry workers rather than identifying farmers alone.

• A 2021 CDC analysis found a suicide rate of 9 deaths per 100,000 male workers in the farming, fishing, and forestry occupation group, compared with 32 per 100,000 for all male workers.
• The rate for males in 2021 working in crop production was 2 per 100,000 (CDC).
• The U.S. had 90 million farms in 2022, down about 10% from 2012. The average farm producer was 58.1 years old, illustrating the aging agricultural workforce (Economic Research Service).
• Rural residents also have higher suicide rates overall: 0 per 100,000 in 2022 versus 13.4 in urban areas (CDC).

AAMFT member Dr. Roberta Bellamy, an expert in agricultural behavioral health, noted:

Agricultural behavioral health is a new frontier for mental health providers. The health of our family farms directly impacts our nation’s food and national security. Agricultural research from across the globe indicates that family farms are currently in a state of crisis, with farmer suicides at alarming rates. Health and safety studies that focus on farming populations point to challenges that span biological, psychological, and sociological domains. While a family farm operation is necessarily co-located with the family home, many of these farms are also temporary work/home environments for many migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. As marriage and family therapists are systems thinkers, we understand the need for a holistic treatment approach. Since family farms are unique in many elements of culture, and because the health implications span biopsychosocial (BPS) domains, marriage and family therapists are well suited to work with this culture.

To help address this severe and deep-seated crisis, resources are available to farming families and the clinicians who serve them:

• Farm Aid Farmer Hotline: 1-800-FARM-AID (1-800-327-6243), with farmer-specific assistance and referrals; English and Spanish support are available.
• 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: If someone is having suicidal thoughts or feels overwhelmed, call or text 988 or use online chat. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.
• Immediate danger: If someone is at immediate risk of harming themselves, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.

For a farmer experiencing suicidal thoughts, 988 is the appropriate immediate mental health resource, while Farm Aid can help address farm-specific stressors and practical problems.

AAMFT has recently added a new resource to its website: Farming Families Resources for MFTs

As agricultural behavioral health is a specialized niche of therapy tailored to the realities of farming families, understanding these families empowers therapists to help them navigate unique and difficult challenges, build coping skills, manage workload stress, and improve communication.

To learn more about working with farming families and agricultural behavioral health, read Dr. Bellamy’s article What is Agricultural Behavioral Health?