That statistic was widely cited, including by NFU, and tracked with previous research: a University of Iowa study indicated that between 19, farmers and ranchers had a rate of suicide that was, on average, 3.5 times that of the general population. In 2016, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released a study suggesting that those in farming, fishing and forestry occupations experienced a rate of suicide that was nearly five times that of the general population. All available research backs these concerns and reinforces the need to improve access to mental health services in rural areas. Over the past couple years, as family farmers’ and ranchers’ typical stresses have been compounded by the state of the farm economy, the issue has come to the forefront for National Farmers Union (NFU). Those of us who work with farmers on a daily basis know that mental and behavioral health is a major concern in farming communities.
By Matt Perdue, NFU Government Relations Representative
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