Page 6 - KMA Ag Mag 2020

KMAland 2020
6 Overcoming Current Challenges in the Ag Community

STRESS IN AGRICULTURE

Many choose to tough it out on mental health might not be a pri-
their own. They work long, hard ority. There is a job to be done.
days and their own health or Farming itself is also unique.
Farmers cannot typically be
advised to just take a vacation
or search for a less stressful job.
Farmers feel a tremendous weight
at the potential loss of their
land – the possibility
that they could
lose something
Dr. David Brown that has been
Iowa State University in their
I
In general, we know that rural
residents have higher rates of
depression, substance abuse and
completed suicide. Some of this
is due to geographic isolation,
distance from health care servic-
es, and the stigma associated with
obtaining mental health care ser-
vices. We also know that agri-
culture producers face additional
challenges to maintaining their
mental health, since their busi-
ness is largely influenced by fac-
tors beyond their control. These
factors could include weather,
disease, pests, fluctuating com-
modity prices, tariffs, land pric-
es, and machinery breakdowns.
Suicide rates are particularly high
for farmers, especially after eco-
nomic crises.
Farmers can be isolated,
geographically and social-
ly, since they often work
alone. They are self-reliant,
independent and may not ask
for help or seek out healthcare,
including mental health care.