Farm suicides: A lack of data, education
In agriculture there is often an overlap between business and identity.
A loss of a farm or ranch can feel like a loss of self and can lead to destructive behaviors.
The concern for farmers and ranchers who find themselves feeling there is no hope is what spurred the revival of the Agricultural Suicide Prevention Program through WSU Extension earlier this year.
There has not been a great deal of data collection related to the suicide rates in the agricultural community. Much of what has been discussed is anecdotal– a neighbor who knew another neighbor who ended their own life after having to sell all their livestock – and it is challenging to find numbers to accurately describe how troubling the situation might be.
However, researchers in Georgia are trying to change the data gap.
A recent study found that “relationship conflict or loss” and “health problems including chronic pain and decreased function” each accounted for 25 percent of the suicides recorded in Georgia between 2008-2015. An additional 23 percent of suicides were prompted by “financial problems” (12 percent) and “substance use” (11 percent). Further, in 21 percent of the deaths, the victims made previous suicidal threats.
Authors of the study suggest one of the keys to curbing the suicide rate among farmers is through outreach and education of farmers and the members of their community.
Farming and ranching can be a solitary pursuit making it more critical for family and friends to be aware of potential cues that suggest a person is struggling.
The American Foundation of Suicide Prevention lists several warning signs a person may exhibit before trying to commit suicide including: loss of interest, irritability, anger, fatigue, and unbearable pain. Many of these symptoms read like a regular day on the farm. That is why it is critical for the community to check in with farmers and ranchers who have exhibited a sudden change in behavior.
The stressors of agriculture – commodity prices, weather events, operating costs, and more – are compounded by the potential loss of a life-long pursuit. The average age of farmers in the United States is 58 years old and many of those individuals are cultivating land that has been maintained in their family for generations.
The pressure to retain the operation of a farm that is generations-old coupled with some of the other factors identified by the Georgia study may be enough to affect the decision-making of any person, on- or off-farm.
Farmers and ranchers are masters of mitigating uncertainty in their agricultural operations. It is time they became masters at mitigating the stressors that may spark self-harm or suicide.
Teaching farmers and ranchers to reach out when they are struggling; teaching community members to check in on their agricultural members; teaching each other to have empathy for the people in front of us, can go a long way in helping to make agricultural suicide rates drop.