suicide

If you or someone you know are experiencing depression or thoughts of suicide, call the national Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, or you can call the AgriStress HelpLine at (833) 897-2474.

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.  "

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...

A crisis helpline dedicated to serving Oregon’s agricultural and forestry communities is now open.

A group of farm organizations led by the National Farmers Union are urging Congress to address farmer suicide rates in the next farm bill. The Coalition of 35 farm groups are asking lawmakers to make mental health treatment more accessible to farmers through the Farm and Ranch Stress Assistance Network...

Last week, lawmakers in the House introduced legislation to provide farmers with stress assistance programs.  The Stemming the Tide of Rural Economic Stress and Suicide, or STRESS Act, seeks to make mental health treatment more available for farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers.  The leg...

A high rate suicides among Washington farmers has drawn the attention of lawmakers  in the state House of Representatives.  Yelm Republican J.T. Wilcox comes from a family with more than 100 years of farming experience in western Washington.  He said...