Customer Story

Words and phrases like “farm tough” and “grit” are often associated with the men and women who grow the food that feeds us – and it’s usually meant as a compliment. But what happens when farmers’ resilience keeps them from getting the care they need to not only thrive in their agricultural work, but live happy, fulfilling lives? 

Adrienne DeSutter is an agricultural mental health specialist, motivational speaker, and the wife of a corn and bean farmer in Illinois. West Connect sat down with her recently for a candid conversation about how to care for ourselves and others, and why it matters.

What do we know about the general state of farmers’ mental and emotional well-being?

A University of Illinois, Urbana, study in 2023 found that 60% of farmers surveyed met the criteria for anxiety and depression, including 60% of farm youth. 

Farmer suicide rates are two to five times higher than the general population, according to the American Farm Bureau Federation’s (FB) farmer wellness initiative, farmstateofmind.org.  

A 2019 FB poll found that a strong majority of farmers and farmworkers think financial issues (91%), farm or business problems (88%) and fear of losing the farm (87%) impact the mental health of farmers.

What are some of the factors contributing to these statistics?

Much of a grower’s stress relates to the uncertainty inherent in a farm lifestyle. Many factors are outside of a farmer’s control – weather, pests, disease, inflation, the economy and commodity prices. You can do everything right and still get it wrong.

Why can it be difficult for farmers to seek help?

The characteristics that make us good farmers – grit, drive, determination – also can cause us to abandon our mental health and reinforce stigmas that suggest seeking help is a sign of weakness. Thankfully, we have seen a reduction in this stigma in recent years.

What can people do to help a friend or neighbor in crisis, or someone just needing support?

Pay attention to a person’s “normal” and recognize changes in typical behavior. Intervene as soon as you see signs of distress. Don’t wait until someone reaches out or you have the perfect thing to say.

Professional help can start with a general medical practitioner, who can direct farmers to mental health resources in their area, or a licensed therapist, either in person or virtually. There are also some great resources available online specifically for farmers (see below).

How important is it to connect with others when we’re feeling down or anxious?

Isolation is a stressor of its own; COVID-19 really showed us this. Interpersonal connection statistically improves our self-esteem, emotional regulation and ability to manage stress. Attending farm bureau meetings or church services, for example, is a protective measure against depression and anxiety.

What can farmers do when they start to experience anxiety or depression?

Think about who you can get vulnerable with, and reach out to them, even if you prefer to keep it vague. Also, realize that going to therapy is for anyone. You don’t have to have a mental health condition or be in crisis. It can just be, “I want to be a better person.”

Farmers experiencing stress can access services at the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network at farmstress.us. It’s the largest government funded entity for mental health in agriculture and has a number of useful resources.

It’s important we take care of our mental health when we are well, before we reach a point of crisis. Our goal is to advocate for every farmer, not just the ones in crisis, to help them realize that they are not alone. Many farmers struggle with these issues, and we can tackle this together as an industry.

Adrienne DeSutter is the founder of Sow Hope, Grow Hope, an advocacy initiative for farmer wellness.

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