Montana Farmers Union • Education
You care for the land, your animals, and the people who depend on you. Your well-being deserves care, too.
Support for farmers, ranchers, agricultural families, and rural neighbors through every season of life.
Suicide deaths per 100,000 among men in Farming, Fishing, and Forestry occupations, compared with men across all occupations in the CDC study.
Civilian, noninstitutionalized workers ages 16–64; 49 states. This category includes more than farming and ranching.
Suicide deaths per 100,000 among rural residents, compared with urban residents nationally.
Age-adjusted population rates. These are separate from the occupational figures and are not Montana-specific.
These figures describe deaths by suicide; they do not measure how many people experience anxiety, depression, or stress. Mental health challenges can affect people of every gender, age, and occupation.
“A healthy farm or ranch is nothing without a healthy you.”
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation • Farm State of Mind
For many agricultural families, the operation is more than a job. It is home, livelihood, and a legacy. Several pressures can build at once, and rural barriers can make support harder to reach.
Changing commodity prices, rising costs, and debt can make planning difficult.
Drought, storms, and conditions beyond your control can threaten months of work.
Long distances and time spent working alone can limit opportunities to connect.
Decisions about the future of a family operation can carry deep emotional weight.
Demanding work, injury, and limited rest can leave little room to recover.
Stigma and distance from services can make it harder to start a conversation or get care.
There is no single explanation for suicide. Stressors and barriers can contribute to distress, but a person’s experience is individual.
Source: American Farm Bureau Federation • Agricultural stress and mental health
Taking care of yourself is part of taking care of the farm.
You do not have to wait until things become a crisis to reach out. A trusted friend, family member, health care provider, or counselor can help you take the next step.
Let someone you trust know what has been weighing on you.
Tell someone what would help today, whether it is company, help with a task, or support making an appointment.
Your health deserves time and attention. Connect with professional support when you need it.
Changes in routines, withdrawing from others, losing interest in activities, or difficulty keeping up with farm and animal care, may be signs someone needs support.
If someone talks about wanting to die, feeling hopeless, or being a burden, take it seriously and contact 988 for guidance.
Source: Farm State of Mind
Source: 988 Lifeline • Help someone else
“How are you really doing?”
“You haven’t seemed like yourself lately. Want to talk?”
“You don’t have to figure this out by yourself. Let’s find someone who can help.”
Listen without judgment. If you are worried about suicide, ask directly: “Are you thinking about suicide?”
Stay connected, help the person reach support, and follow up. Do not promise to keep a plan to hurt themselves secret. Call or text 988 for help supporting someone; call 911 if there is immediate danger.
Source: 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline • Helping someone in distress
These organizations were included in MFU’s mental health outreach materials. Use their websites to find current services and contact information.
Sources: MFU outreach presentation, JD Overall.pdf, p. 16; linked provider websites and NAMI affiliate directory.
Sources: MFU outreach presentation, JD Overall.pdf, p. 17; linked organization websites.
Sources: MFU outreach presentation, JD Overall.pdf, p. 18; linked organization websites.
Source: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services
MFU Foundation • Community Grant Spotlight
Three middle school students saw a need for peer support and created the Stress Less Squad. The group meets weekly to help young people build connection and belonging.
The Montana Farmers Union Foundation Community Grant Program awarded $1,300 to support the group’s work.
Neighbors helping neighbors can begin at any age. Supporting connection is one way to strengthen our rural communities.
Call or text 988 for free, confidential support, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can also contact 988 if you are worried about someone else. If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
Montana-focused information for agricultural families, with resources for stress, finances, family concerns, substance use, and finding help.
Provided by: Montana State University Extension
Explore MSU Extension resourcesA movement encouraging agricultural neighbors to move beyond surface conversations and talk openly about mental health. MSU Extension lists free, confidential counseling for Montana agriculture at 406-200-8471, ext. 7, funded by the AMB West Foundation.
Provided by: Beyond the Weather; counseling listing: MSU Extension
Visit Beyond the WeatherResources and training to help farmers, ranchers, families, and rural communities recognize and address farm stress and support mental well-being.
Provided by: National Farmers Union
Explore Farm Stress EducationConnect with staff who can help identify resources for farm, financial, and personal challenges. Call 1-800-327-6243, Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Mountain Time (9 a.m.–9 p.m. Eastern).
Provided by: Farm Aid
Visit Farm Aid resourcesFor the agriculture counseling program, call 406-200-8471 and request extension 7. Ask the program about current eligibility and availability. Local providers can explain appointment options, costs, and insurance.
You don’t need to have all the answers to make a difference.
Check on a neighbor. Make time to listen. Help someone connect with support. And when you need help yourself, let someone show up for you.
If someone is in immediate danger, call 911.
This resource presentation was created for the Jason DeShaw concerts sponsored by Montana Farmers Union. It includes agricultural mental health support and local Montana resources to help individuals, families and rural communities connect with care.
Jason DeShaw is a nationally recognized mental health speaker, advocate and country singer-songwriter from Montana. Through music and storytelling, he shares his personal journey of recovery from mental illness and addiction, offering hope and encouraging open conversations about mental health.
Resource presentation: Montana Farmers Union
About Jason:
Jason DeShaw’s official website
MFU local resources and grant spotlight: JD Overall.pdf, pp. 12 and 16–19. Local provider sources are linked in each community section. Web sources checked September 30, 2026. Statistics retain their original data years.