Washington Looks At The Mental Health Of Farmers

The Washington State Department of Agriculture recently released the Mental Health and Suicide Prevention for Agricultural Producers and Workers report. 

The work group, which included elected officials, Farm Bureau members, educators from Washington State University, and others, met over the past year to provide recommendations on mental health and suicide prevention for agricultural producers, farm workers, and their families.  Recommendations from the work group include: 

• Integrate 988 and AgriStress Response hotline under a unified system allowing for swift accessibility
• Expand community awareness campaigns
• One-stop support centers to offer mental health, financial, and legal resources
• Suicide prevention and awareness training for those working in the industry
• Establish grants to study the regulatory burdens and economic impact on farmers
• Identify funding sources and a comprehensive funding strategy. 

Moses Lake representative Tom Dent helped secure funding in the 2024 supplemental operating budget to put the work group together.

These Are The People Putting Food On Our Table

"Suicide rates in Washington state are almost 25% higher than the general population,” Dent noted following the release of the WSDA report.  "The mental well-being of our ag industry has been in decline for several reasons. We needed to take a closer look at the factors and come up with some solutions or tools to mitigate the suicide risk among the ag producers and workers. These folks are the ones who are putting food on the table for our state, country, and across the globe.

"The financial pressures and economic uncertainty they are facing continue to worsen. The health issues and social isolation are above the norm, considering the long hours, demanding work, increased stress, and solitude they experience.

We Need To Help The Washington Farming Community

"The goal of this report is to raise awareness and provide or increase access to needed care and services for those working in our agricultural industry. While those in the Ag community are highly resilient in the face of adversity, we have an opportunity to help them, as they produce for us every day." 

Dent said several legislators in the work group will be exploring possible legislation needed to address some of the recommendations.

If you have a story idea for the PNW Ag Network, call (509) 547-1618, or e-mail glenn.vaagen@townsquaremedia.com 

Click Here to read the WSDA report in its entirety.