Farm Crisis Center: Suicide Prevention

Even in the best of times, farming can be an incredibly high-stress occupation. The rural suicide rate is about 45 percent higher than the urban suicide rate. Unpredictable weather, crop disease, volatile markets, heavy workloads, and social isolation are just a handful of the challenges that farmers may face. These conditions force many family farmers and ranchers to make tough financial decisions that will impact their families, communities, and the entire country.

Suicide Prevention:

There is help available to those struggling with extreme stress. This includes the Farm Aid Hotline and The Montana Suicide Prevention lifeline at 1-800-237-TALK or text “MT” to 741 741. Darla Tyler-McSherry, author of Ask in Earnest a suicide prevention website dedicated to providing resources and articles on mental health, wrote the guest article: Tips to Stay Mentally Fit” for MFU’s publication Montana Grassroots.

Montana Farmers Union compiled the following resources to help farmers through stressful times:

Farm Crisis Center | A national resource center for farmers in crisis. (nfu.org)

Suicide Prevention Information and Resources (mt.gov)

Online Request for Assistance – Farm Aid