Farming drives billions in GA’s economy, but workers suffer from mental health problems
The work required to drive an industry that produces tens of billions of dollars in Georgia’s economic impact isn’t easy on your body or your brain.
Just ask Todd Harris, the owner of Three Lakes Ranch in Crawford County, who said a full day’s work from sunup to sundown can drive anyone insane.
“I ain’t crazy yet, but the day’s still early though,” he joked.
The Georgia native has been tending livestock providing high-quality beef for 33 years. Although Harris enjoys his profession and describes it as waking up every day on vacation, he said it entails a different lifestyle than the average person.
It’s a different lifestyle that takes a serious toll on the workers and their loved ones. While agribusiness is Georgia’s leading industry, accounting for more than $74 billion in annual economic effect, researchers have revealed that being at the heart of food production comes with a mental cost: about 29% of Georgians who work in farm-related roles have suicidal thoughts at least once per month, according to the Farmer’s Mental Well-Being Project study, which surveyed 1,600 such residents.
The study also showed 60% of first-generation farmers having suicidal thoughts.
In this study, the term “farmer” refers to farm owners, farm managers, farm workers, spouses and other farm-related roles. It showed 96% of farmers are either moderately or highly stressed. Almost half of respondents reported feeling sad or depressed, and 39% felt hopeless.
The study was conducted by the Mercer University School of Medicine and the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture researchers, who wanted to examine stressors in rural Georgia farmers and identify barriers for treatment in mental health and substance abuse.
They also wanted to generate data to help explain the alarming rate of farmer suicides noted in 2018 reports from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which counted 50.7 suicides per 100,000 farmers, compared to 14.9 per 100,000 measured in all industries, Dr. Anne Montgomery, a Georgia Rural Health Innovation Center biostatistician, said in a press release.
Money, no time off cause stress for GA farmers
Jennifer Dunn, deputy assistant commissioner for Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities, said she has already spoken with over 900 farmers so far this year about stress at University of Georgia Extension production meetings.
“The need for these production meetings grew more necessary for farmers after Hurricane Michael in 2018,” she said. “It sort of accelerated the process as now we don’t have a choice. We have to talk to these groups of people because they’re really struggling with their stress levels.”
According to the study, environmental factors are farmers’ leading stressors, with 61% of respondents describing unfavorable weather conditions, recovery from natural disasters and wildlife and pests as a main problem.
The study also revealed that financial stressors have an impact on 59% of Georgia farmers, whose businesses revolve around the unpredictability of market commodity prices, animal care and high debt.
“We’ve got big risks. We owe lots of money and are trying to pay people back. Just kind of scraping by. We have a huge payroll every week, having to get all (the employers) paid before we get paid,” Harris said.
According to the study, 61% of Georgia farmers reported having no life-work balance as a source of stress, as they relentlessly monitor farm operations and have no free time alone or with family.
Harris said he can’t stray too far from the ranch, in case something unpredictable happens and he is needed to handle the situation.
“I ain’t had a vacation in about 10 to 12 years from now, especially not for more than one or two nights at a time,” he added. “Most people take at least a week from vacation.”
Resources for stressed GA farmers
The study shows that 93% of participants had not seen a mental health care professional, and only 36% of them knew of an option of care in their area.
Dunn wants agriculture industry workers to know that there are resources available outside of alcohol consumption.
“When I ask farmers what they do for stress release, 100% of the time they will mention drinking,” she said.
Dunn provides farmers with emergency preparedness plans to help relieve their environmental-related stress. She also recommends deep breathing exercises and drinking in moderation.
According to the study, 31% of farmers said they talk to family and friends as a form of stress relief. Dunn said farmers’ top outlets are their spouses, faith leaders and, most importantly, other farmers.
“To me, it’s all about connectivity,” she said. “When I speak to them, I sort of capitalize on the fact that you are the other farmer. Maybe you don’t need the help, but maybe someone else does.”
Connectivity is necessary in this industry, which has male-centered views of handling mental stress, Dunn added.
”There’s a lot of stigma to it. Farmers are very strong and proud by nature. They can fix everything,” she said. “ But one farmer said ‘I can fix any piece of equipment on my farm but I can’t fix myself.’ We want them to know that you are the most important aspect of your farm.”
Dunn said knowing farmers aren’t willing to talk about mental health is why organizations like the Georgia Farm Bureau and Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance are partnering to talk about the issues for them.
Dunn helped coordinate the 2024 Farmer Stress Summit, which will take place March 20 at the Appalachian Campus of Chattahoochee Technical College in Jasper.
This third annual event will spotlight farmer stress issues and search for ways to support Georgia farm families’ well-being. Breakout sessions will include suicide prevention training, a Farm & Faith listening session and more.
”The fact that we have (agriculture) folks in the same room as mental health folks is a huge success,” Dunn said.
Anyone in the agriculture business experiencing a mental health or substance abuse crisis should text or call 988, a 24-hour suicide and crisis hotline.
