By Sarah Sterling, MA, LPC

Sarah Sterling is a Licensed Professional Counselor with Peak Counseling & Wellness in Colorado. Her passion for agriculture stems from her time spent with her family’s ranch operation.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The issues and pressures our partners in agriculture face are mounting, and at times, debilitating. And let’s be honest, conversations about well-being rarely make it to the dinner table on the farm.

Yet, the pressures that farmers withstand are insurmountable, and most of these pressures are completely out of the farmers’ control. Unpredictable weather, fluctuating prices and market stability, retaining skilled labor, impacts of government policy on business, and so much more, make the agriculture industry consistently inconsistent.

These aren’t just business concerns; they’re the kind of stressors that keep our agriculture leaders up at night. Agriculture, by its very nature, is a rollercoaster, built on faith, resilience, and risk.

Yet for all the grit and determination in this profession, there’s one topic that still lingers in the shadows: mental health. If mental health is a word that makes you cringe, then it can be interchangeable with mental well-being, emotional health, psychological well-being, and more.

Either way, it is a fact that farmers and ranchers are under enormous psychological strain. Depression, anxiety, and toxic stress are not rare in rural communities—they’re real, and too often, they’re hidden.

Farmer suicide rates are 3.5x higher than the national average*

Natural disasters, extreme weather events, financial uncertainty, fluctuating markets, labor shortages, trade disruptions and other factors all contribute to extreme stress for farmers and ranchers who often live in a very isolated setting.

“Farmers and ranchers may be at increased risk of suicide when considering demographic, environmental, and occupational circumstances common to the population. Many report chronic pain, hearing loss, or permanent disability—all of which can increase suicide risk.”

(Miller & Rudolphi, 2022).

That’s not just a grim statistic—it’s a wake-up call.

You Are Not Alone

Producers have the skill, perseverance, determination, and the vision. The challenge is not letting the stress of this work hijack your wellbeing.

Stress, depression, and anxiety can cause physical (somatic) issues. Stomach aches, heart issues, diabetes, blood pressure issues, substance abuse as well. To manage your wellbeing, focus on:

  • Keeping the conversation going.
  • Showing up for each other in more vulnerable ways than you are used to.
  • Making space—around the dinner table, in the field, and on the road—to talk about well-being as you would talk about yield.

I’m not writing this to tell you to change who you are, how you live, or what you believe. I’m writing to remind you: the challenges you face are real—and they’re incredibly tough, and you are not alone.

Take Control of Your Well-Being

Start by telling the closest and most supportive person in your life what you are feeling, and why.  Just say, “I feel [worried, overwhelmed, disappointed, angry, etc.] because_________.”

Then, pause and reflect on the different resiliency factors, strengths, or coping skills you could use to manage the feelings you identified.

These are the types of conversations and skills that are needed to maintain the lifestyle you have chosen for generations to come. If you don’t have a person you can confide in, or if you need help with coping skills, utilize any of the confidential and anonymous resources listed below.

Managing Stress and Difficult Times

As you begin to list and practice the things that bring you strength and help you cope during difficult times, I encourage you to think of things you can do before, after, and during your stress.

Often people can name things they do to take care of themselves, but they are not accessible in the moment—like exercise, friends, or church. Things that are accessible in the moment include visualizing peace and relaxation, regulating and slowing your breathing, fresh air, taking a drink of water, prayer, progressive muscle relaxation, finding humor in the moment, distractions, and reframing the issue(s) at hand.

These are tools that probably all need more context, but are proven to help, and can be easily accessible whether you’re in a high stakes meeting, on the combine, or bookkeeping.

Shouldering Agriculture’s Growing Responsibility

In agriculture, there will always be good days and bad days. But farming is a constant act of balancing hope and hardship—focusing on what you can control and trying to manage what you can’t.

Let’s be real: that’s easier said than done when your livelihood and legacy are so deeply tied to the uncontrollable. By naming your feelings and identifying and utilizing different coping skills, you can better manage what comes your way.  The world needs you, and you are appreciated.

Below is a list of organizations that offer immediate support and helpful resources.

Immediate Crisis Hotline

If you or someone you know is having a mental health crisis, anyone can:

Call or text 988 for immediate, 24/7 support.

Or visit 988lifeline.org/, a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

Find Treatment and Services

 

*Center for Disease Control and Prevention data