ST. LOUIS (First Alert 4) – Mental health has been a major concern in the past few years, affecting everyone – including farmers.
In fact, farmers, ranchers and other ag workers may have their own unique and powerful struggles with mental health — all over the very life they lead.
The American Farm Bureau Association says farming is a stressful occupation, with risks of high anxiety and depression.
“Multiple studies show that farmer suicide rates are 2-5x higher than the national average,” the AFB says. “Experiences such as natural disasters, extreme weather events, financial uncertainty, fluctuating markets, labor shortages, trade disruptions and other factors all contribute to extreme stress for farmers and ranchers who often live in a very isolated setting.”
The other struggle, according to multiple experts speaking to First Alert 4, is the culture of not talking about mental trouble that is historic in farming communities.
Mental health professionals, farmers, medical experts and colleges across the country are all worried that ag workers may be facing extreme mental struggles — but are unwilling to talk about it.
In this series of stories, First Alert 4 is focused on the personal, professional and support system struggles facing farm workers around Missouri and the nation.
CAREY’S STORY
Carey Portell is a farmer in Cuba, Missouri. She’s like many farm workers, up around dawn — doing chores and prepping for her day.
But her story is a little different. Carey was involved in a serious car accident which left her unable to walk sometimes.
“I think I’m the most confusing wheelchair user there is. Because people are like wait a minute — people are like, wait I saw you this morning in the grocery store, and now you’re in a wheelchair,“ she says. ”Like I don’t get it. I’m like, it was very confusing to me at first as well.”
The car accident was significant. A drunk driver hit Carey’s car going around 85 mph.
“It took them about an hour to get me out of the car,” she told First Alert 4. “Pieces of my car had embedded themselves into my lower body.”
Obviously, her physical body was severely impacted by the incident, but Carey found her mind was recovering as well.
“This is nothing, like what is going on in my mind and my heart right is every bit as difficult as what as what I’m going through physically.”
Stuck in recovery, often relying on others, it was hard for the formerly physically active mom of four to adjust.
But, it was her love of her farm and family that got her working on her mental health.
“And I thought that’s why I keep fighting,” she said. “I can’t do it. I cannot give them an excuse to say mom gave up, so I’m going to give up.”
So she didn’t. She pushed through and worked on her mental and physical body. Eventually, she was able to move on her own two feet, and then eventually start taking the kids to events — and even do her farm chores.
“It was the worst experience and the best experience of my life,” she said about learning to walk again.
She eventually started sharing her story in small groups, then as a guest speaker and eventually through videos and podcasts.
She became connected to AgriSafe, one of many groups nationwide trying to support ag workers in their unique roles.
AGRISAFE
AgriSafe is a a nonprofit group of health professionals and educators who are trying to reach agricultural communities. They have a number of efforts, including mental health, to try and meet the needs of the agriculture world.
“We believe agricultural injuries, diseases, and fatalities can be prevented through the effective delivery of agricultural occupational health services,” AgriSafe says.
In 2023, AgriSafe supported health efforts around the Avian Flu (Bird Flu) outbreaks in ag workers across the country, provided trainings to over 3,600 people in ag work and provided plenty of mental health support.
AGRISTRESS HELPLINE
The helpline is available to any ag worker, through text or call, at 833-897-2474.
It’s currently focused on states providing some form of support to the line, but AgriSafe says the helpline will not turn any caller away.
It’s free, confidential and a crisis and support line operating 24/7, according to AgriSafe. This line is manned by professionals in mental health that also have specialized trainings in agriculture, ranch, farm and other ag work.
It’s like 988, in a way.
“Both the AgriStress Helpline and 988 offer the same quality of suicide crisis services – but our crisis specialists have extra training to know the culture, values, stressors, and lived experiences of agriculture, forestry, and fishing workers,“ AgriSafe says about the line. ”In addition, crisis specialists have access to a state-specific curated database of agricultural and health resources.”
AgriSafe offers multiple language call-takers.
More stories on this topic and its impacts to Missouri farmers is coming.
Avery Martinez covers water, ag & the environment for First Alert 4. He is also a Report for America corps member, as well as a member of the Mississippi River Basin Ag & Water Desk. His coverage goes from corn farms to hunting concerns, and local water rates to buffalo health.
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