Farmer Suicide Increases Nationwide - Help is Available

The Center of Disease Control (CDC) reports that one third of Americans experience symptoms of anxiety or depression.
The Center of Disease Control (CDC) reports that one third of Americans experience symptoms of anxiety or depression.
(Farm Journal)

Dairy farming is a 24/7, 365-day commitment and with the demanding job it brings just caring for cattle, it can be compounded by economic uncertainty and vulnerability to weather conditions. The nonstop demand can plague a producer’s mental health, aiding in stress, anxiety and depression.

The pandemic brought mental health into the spotlight as it wreaked havoc on the mental headspace of many. The Center of Disease Control (CDC) reports that one third of Americans experience symptoms of anxiety or depression. Furthermore, 85% of employees feel their wellbeing has declined since COVID-19. Farmers are among the most likely to die by suicide compared to other occupations, a statistic that was known before the pandemic even hit.

Pennsylvania dairy farmer Jessica Peters understands all too well, as she has publicly shared her mental health struggles and advocates for mental health through her social platforms. She shares tips that have helped her cope when her mental headspace has been off-kilter.

  1. Trashy novels. Look, no one wants to admit to reading crappy romance novels that have photos of Fabio on the cover, but that’s what I do. It takes me out of my world, out of my mind for a bit. I get to immerse myself in a make-believe world where the penniless maid falls in love with the rich, heartless duke and nothing else matters. For a while, anyway. It’s the same as finding a new favorite show on Netflix or movie series. Even if it’s only for a few hours, it can help take away some of that pressure.
  2. Music. This may not apply to everyone, but music does a lot for me. It can make or break my day/mood. It can also help me understand what I’m feeling. Music is a way for artists to express how they feel or have felt. Finding the right song can help me understand what I’m feeling, too.
  3. Social Media. I know, I know, social media gets a bad rap. And believe me, it has been the cause of some of my darkest moods. But it’s also been the reason I want to wake up in the morning. Finding the right people and the right accounts to follow can make all the difference. The key? For me, it was unfollowing the accounts that made me feel worse about myself. Sometimes, those were people I considered friends. Being jealous of people on social media, is you not them. If you need to unfollow your best friend for a while, do it. Comparison is the thief of joy and it’s so hard not to compare yourself when all you do is scroll the highlight reel that can be Instagram.
  4. TALK ABOUT IT. This one by far has helped me cope with my mental health. I like to post it out loud on Instagram, but that’s also scary as heck. So, talking to a friend, family member, or stranger on the internet may be a little easier to swallow. But even if that seems like too much, talk to yourself. Sit in the car for an extra 10 minutes and just talk about how you’re feeling. Video yourself with your phone and be completely honest. Watching those videos back has helped me come to terms with some pretty horrible feelings. Start a journal that only you see. Get the words out. Keeping them inside only makes them worse.
  5. List the good things. When I feel like I’m in a serious ‘funk,’ I spend my last waking moments of the day listing all the good things that I did or saw. In the beginning, it starts with things like ‘I brushed my teeth twice today’, or ‘I remembered to put the toaster away after I used it today’. Eventually, it gets easier.

Peters launched Secrets of Ag more than two years ago to give others who were struggling with mental health a place to secretly talk about what they are feeling. She believes farmers are more willing to share their ‘secrets’ with her because they know she can relate. She adds, “I cannot promise that sharing or reading a secret will save a life, but I know how powerful it can be to just say things out loud.”

Adrienne DeSutter, a former school counselor and ag mental health specialist with ties to the Illinois Farm Bureau, who farms alongside family in Woodhull, Illinois has spoken about mental health in spades.

“We need to end the stigma of mental health," DeSutter says. "It keeps us isolated, keeps us quiet, and feeling weak or embarrassed. If we don't share with each other, we don't realize that others are going through the same things we are." 

Peters shares signs that someone you know may be suffering with mental health.

  1. Changes in behavior. They withdraw when they’re usually outspoken. They suddenly become attached to their phone when they’re usually more present with other people in the room. They typically post daily on social media but haven't posted in a few days. 
  2. Self-derogatory comments. Not accepting compliments but turning them into self-deprecating statements. The phrase ‘it’s just me’ is one of my least favorite phrases in the English language and I say it all the time. Starting a story or sentence with ‘stupid me…’. Sometimes it’s subtle, you think it may just be a turn of phrase, but often it goes deeper than that.
  3. Mood changes. Struggling mentally is often confusing, especially if it’s new. And sometimes, confusion comes out as anger towards the people around us, because being angry at ourselves doesn’t make sense. 
  4. Losing interest. When I’m super low, I don’t even hear the music. Usually, I hook my phone to the Bluetooth speaker in the parlor during every milking. When my mind is on something else, I don’t even turn the radio on. Sometimes it takes me days to realize I haven’t listened to a single note. But once I do, I know it’s time to start talking.
  5. You just know. Let’s be honest, sometimes you just feel it. You feel like someone is off. But how many times do you truly ask them what’s going on? We don’t ask because it’s awkward. You can’t force someone to talk to you about what’s bothering them, but you can let them know that you’re willing to listen when they’re ready.

DeSutter says that suicide doesn’t have just one cause. “It’s a culmination of things. It starts as stress and continues as excruciating chronic stress or depression or anxiety, and that just builds." 

Warning Signs & Symptoms of a Crisis

A list of things to watch for in a family member or friend has been compiled by the Illinois Farm Bureau. These signal potential destructive behaviors and should not be ignored. The individual should be persuaded to seek help. If a person talks about:

  • Killing themselves
  • Feeling hopeless
  • Having no reason to live
  • Being a burden to others
  • Feeling trapped
  • Unbearable pain

If you believe someone is in serious risk of harm, take action. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a hotline for individuals in crisis and for those helping someone in crisis. They’re available 24 hours/day and can be reached at (800) 273-8255.

 

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