Stress on the Farm Hurts Mental Health, But Help Is Coming Soon
December 19, 2021 Farmers, growers, and ranchers are the strong, resilient type. Florida’s farmers, in particular, have their fair share of challenges to contend with, like unpredictable weather and climate, powerful natural disasters, the constant threat of invasive pests and diseases, and unfair foreign trade that has cost Florida seasonal produce growers billions in economic losses.
Despite the personal strength required to overcome these obstacles, doing so can come at a cost to mental health. The realities of farm life can create a culture of self-reliance, but with farm stress on the rise for several years, we can’t afford for a “‘too tough to ask for help’ mentality to stand in the way,” as American Farm Bureau Federation President Zippy Duvall says.
For much of the past decade, rural and farm stress and farmer suicide deaths have been increasing, with death by suicide among farmers being 3.5 times the average in 2019. A national poll in 2019 found that mental health is important to 91% of rural adults and 82% of farmers and farmworkers, with three in four agreeing that it’s necessary to reduce the stigma of mental health in agriculture. Yet nearly half of farmers and farmworkers say it’s difficult to access therapy or counseling in their community. Nearly nine in 10 farmers cite financial issues, farm business issues, and fear of losing their farms as mental health stressors, particularly with farm bankruptcies reaching high levels last year despite record federal aid.
Of course, this was all before an unprecedented global pandemic. Two thirds of farmers and farmworkers say that COVID-19 has impacted their mental health, along with more than half of rural adults, according to a national poll earlier this year. The pandemic not only increased isolation but added massive financial concerns given the sudden closure of traditional sales channels for many of Florida’s producers, such as restaurants, cruise lines, theme parks, and schools.
With many farm stressors set to increase in the years to come, we can’t wait for more crises before acting. That’s why I’m excited to share that the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) has been awarded a $500,000 grant from the USDA to carry out our new Farm Stress Awareness and Reduction Initiative.
Through this federal grant, we’ll undertake a major mental health awareness campaign in communities across Florida, in partnership with UF/IFAS. With Extension offices in all 67 counties, UF/IFAS and FDACS will train public school agriculture teachers, 4-H, Future Farmers of America members, and others to recognize the signs of farm stress in their communities and families. We’re also working with community partners to help agriculture producers get connected with mental health services, and we’ll work to expand the reach of new telehealth sites in rural counties.
We’ll start with a statewide survey of mental health in Florida’s agriculture community and resources available to help, led by the UF/IFAS Center for Public Issues Education in Agriculture and Natural Resources, in partnership with the Southeastern Coastal Center for Agricultural Health and Safety. Finally, we’ll produce and air a series of video, radio, print, and social media advertisements to make sure Florida’s farmers and ranchers know that help is available, wherever they may be.
Working your farm can be tough – but if you find yourself mentally and emotionally struggling, you don’t need to suffer in silence. Talk to family, friends, and if needed, a therapist or counselor. Don’t wait until it’s too late. And know that as we work together through these challenges, more help is on the way.