coronavirus
“Fall-off-a-cliff moment”: Covid-19 adds new dimension to farmers’ stress
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Farmers faced high levels of stress before the pandemic. But the virus’s impact on agriculture has only deepened some farmers’ stress, experts said.
SEEDS OF DESPAIR: Isolated, and with limited access to mental-health care, hundreds are dying by suicide.
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American farmers produce nearly all of the country’s food and contribute some $133 billion annually to the gross domestic product.
Yet they now are saddled with near-record debt, declaring bankruptcy at rising rates and selling off their farms amid an uncertain future clouded by climate change and whipsawed by tariffs and bailouts.
For some, the burden is too much to bear.
Wellness on the Farm
Seeking a Cure: Mental health access scarce in rural, farming communities
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With farmers facing increasing stress and depression, Midwestern states and national farm groups are making more efforts to better provide services to alleviate the high rate of suicide among the agriculture industry.
Yet in rural areas, this care is more of a challenge.
Wellness on the Farm
Relocating USDA agencies delayed millions in grants. One was for a suicide prevention network for farmers.
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Suicide is a major problem among farmers. A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found the agricultural industry had the fourth-highest rate of suicide.