Mental Health of Farmers Declines in North Dakota

— Cambry Fyllesvold, Feature Editor

— Emma Helbling, Opinion Editor

Farmers are the backbone of the American economy, and yet there is a silent epidemic ending the lives of thousands of people: suicide. The agricultural industry has one of the highest suicide rates in the country which is growing higher every day.

Suicide rates in agriculture are higher than any other occupation. 84.5 people per 100,000 people, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

With nearly 90% of North Dakota’s land area being farmland and ranches, Agriculture is a large part of the state’s economy. North Dakota is the lead producer of spring wheat, durum wheat, dry edible peas and beans, canola, and honey in the country. North Dakota’s crop production also has a large impact on the state’s job opportunities, holding one-fourth of the state’s employment being in the Agricultural industry.

Farmers, from statistics, have shown a increase in suicidal behaviors and depression. Between their demanding jobs and long hours, farmers face the challenge of mental health. Many farmers spend extensive hours by themselves everyday. This repetitive cycle of intense isolation can cause intense mental health issues.

“They are great laborers that love the day to day,” Tanasha Wanner, Agriculture teacher said. “But falling behind on the planning can tire out the day to day and fall subject to a huge amount of stress and fall away from the work they love to do and the reason they even took over an operation to begin with.”

In a recent study published by the University of Michigan, social isolation is frequently connected with psychosocial risk factors that impact farmers’ health. Farmers can experience symptoms such as increased depression, high levels of stress, and burnout, which are magnified by isolation.

“They have a job that keeps them out of their home and away from family and friends for days at a time. Oftentimes, they are working in many conditions out of their control between weather and input expenses, among other things. They are also a topic of scrutiny in the media,” Wanner said.

Though these are problems that the majority of farmers face, the issues are largely unspoken in the agricultural community. Why these issues are unsaid, may be because of the farming culture or generational silence.

“I think it’s important that people just remember to be supportive and to thank them for their work. Feeling supported can help a lot of people to feel better about the work they do,” Wanner said.

With these daunting factors, how does the farming community treat this isolation and loneliness? Currently there are very few mental health platforms for farmers available. Many farmers may prefer communicating with other farmers instead of a ‘generic’ mental health service that they may deem impersonal.

“There are definitely more resources available now,” Greg Wanner, fourth generation farmer and rancher said. “Recently, NDSU extension released information on help.”

This extension published by North Dakota State University is a considerable step in the right direction in providing a mental health line specifically targeted towards farmers.

One day hopefully soon, all farmers will be able to talk about their mental health. If there’s any note to be taken from this silent epidemic is: Thank you farmers, we appreciate you.

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