Farmers in Danger
Lately, the issue of suicide has been in the news a lot, with the unexpected deaths of chef Anthony Bourdain and fashion designer Kate Spade making headlines. But while celebrity deaths gain attention, suicide is quietly on the rise among another group as well: American farmers. Here, btw takes a closer look at this heartbreaking problem.
What Are The Facts?
Credit: Design Pics / Kelly Redinger
Though we don’t often hear about it, the suicide rate among farmers shows a higher rate than any other occupational group. In fact, their suicide rate is 84.5 deaths per 100,000 people. To put that number in perspective, that’s more than five times the rate for the rest of the population. And overall, rates of suicide are highest and have risen fastest in America’s rural areas. (Sadly, this statistic holds true in other countries as well.)
What’s Causing This Crisis?
As is always the case with the complicated issue of suicide, a number of factors are involved:
- Falling agriculture prices: Income for farmers has been dropping steadily since 2013. In fact, farmers are projected to make about 35 percent less money this year than they did five years ago, even as inflation continues to raise the prices of seed, fertilizer, and other necessities. Often, farmers have to take out loans to pay for the equipment and materials they need, and when they don’t make enough money to pay back those loans, they find themselves caught in a cycle of debt that can be nearly impossible to break out of.
- Climate change: Hotter, drier weather can be devastating for crops and leads to lower annual crop yields for farmers.
- Trump’s tariffs: As Trump raises tariffs on goods from China, Mexico, Canada, and the EU, these nations have responded by raising their prices on American exports–in many cases, agricultural products. Mexico, for example, has announced that they will no longer purchase cheese from Wisconsin. This means that farmers’ precarious financial situation is about to get even worse.
- Tradition: Many small, non-corporate-owned farms have been in families for hundreds of years, passed down from one generation to the next. Farmers who “lose” their family farm for economic reasons may feel a personal sense of failure, or that they have let their families down.
- Inadequate health care: In rural areas, it can be difficult to gain access to affordable health care, especially mental health care. In addition, the House of Representatives just passed a bill that allows health insurance companies to sell farmers insurance plans that don’t include mental health care coverage. If farmers who are suffering from depression and hopelessness don’t have access to good mental health services, the consequences can be deadly.
What Can Be Done To Help?
Organizations such as Farm Aid, founded in 1985, provide much-needed resources and support to farmers, as well as advocating on their behalf. Also, if you or someone you know is suffering from feelings of depression or hopelessness, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK.