The U.S. Senate unanimously approved a bipartisan resolution designating May 29 as “Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day.” Sponsored by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-NE) and Michael Bennet (D-CO), the designation seeks to raise awareness about mental health in the agricultural industry and workforce and reduce the stigma associated with mental illness.
The lawmakers want to highlight the challenges agricultural producers and workers face, including weather unpredictability, labor shortages, farm succession, and fluctuating commodity and market prices. Many agricultural states are experiencing a mental health crisis, with producers dealing with those stresses.
According to the National Rural Health Association, the rate of suicide among farmers is 3.5 times higher than the general population. The rate among farmworkers is 1.4 times higher than rates in all other occupations, according to the Mortality-Linked National Health Interview Survey.
The National Pork Producers Council, which thanked Sens. Fischer and Bennet for their leadership on the issue, said it is important to shine a light on the mental health challenges faced by farmers and ranchers.
“In both prosperous and uncertain times, it’s essential that we continue working to break the stigma around mental health—supporting not only today’s producers, but also the next generation,” said NPPC President Duane Stateler, an Ohio pork producer.
Resources: The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network connects agricultural producers and workers to stress assistance programs. For a list of other mental health resources, click here and here.
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