“Routinely asking about mental health normalizes the conversation, much like asking about digestive health or any other body system you discuss with your primary care provider,” said study coauthor Jessica Jurasin, MSN, FNP-C, ARN. “It serves as an invitation to start the discussion, which can be an enormous hurdle when stigma is involved.”

Is it any wonder there is a mental health crisis in rural America? Hurricanes, floods, regulations, lawsuits, high input prices, low commodity prices — and those are just a few of the challenges farmers face. Add to that the pressure to maintain the family farm, one that gets harder with each generation. Finally, factor in that farmers, and as an extension farm families, are tough and often reluctant to talk about their feelings. We aren’t good at asking for help. 

Why are we afraid to say the word "suicide?" Usually, it is for the benefit of the family, out of respect for their privacy. But the real reason is that mental disorders remain the most stigmatized of all illnesses, and suicide encapsulates mental aberrations to the extreme. I never considered my specialty (psychiatry) to have a mortality rate until one of my supervisors reminded me that our patients die by suicide and sometimes kill others by homicide, acts which can be prevented more often than not.

“How are you doing?” It’s a simple question, but it can make all the difference if we’re willing to ask and stop to listen to the answer. Anyone who’s been under the weight of stress or grief knows how a friend—or even a stranger—taking a moment to care and listen can help lift that burden. For farmers and ranchers, it can be tough to take that first step. We are known for our grit and resilience. We are people who don’t shy away from a challenge, but we are not immune to the stresses of life and the toll they can take. But we are getting better at facing these challenges together.

FRANKFORT, Ky. — The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded $500,000 grant to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to expand its efforts to address stress, mental health, and suicide prevention among agriculture producers, Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles announced today.

Sparsely populated communities face unique challenges, such as isolation and cultural stigmas about mental health, that call for tailored suicide prevention approaches.