Agristress

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, and mental health has never been a more important topic for U.S. farmers and ranchers.  Ag Secretary Brooke Rollins said farmers are suffering through tough times.   “The suicide rate among our farmers is similar to that of our veterans, and it's stunningly and heartbreakingly high, and we have to realize that something has to be done," she noted.  "

An estimated one in two American adults reports experiencing significant loneliness.  The Surgeon General’s Advisory on the Health Effects of Social Connection and Community says loneliness can often be more pronounced in rural communities since fewer people live further away from each other.  Nikki Shaffer...

Oregon’s AgriStress Helpline is running out of money.  Northeastern Oregon State Representative Bobby Levy said the 24-7 crisis line provides a critical service to rural communities.   "Farmers, ranchers, loggers, commercial fishers experience significantly higher suicide rates than any other profession.”   Eastern Or...

For the 46 million people living in rural America, the holiday season can present added pressures to an already stressful time of year.  In addition to higher rates of depression, suicide rates among people in rural areas are 64%-68% higher compared to people living in large urban areas.  Ru...

The farming community is paying more attention to mental health, and the needs of everyone connected to the Ag community.  To help address those challenges, the AgriStress hotline was launched in Oregon in late 2023.  Matt McElligott, president of the Oregon Cattlemen's Association, said farmers and ranchers are a pretty independent and prideful people who don’t often talk about their struggles.