Nebraska farmers face mental health obstacles amid drought, high costs
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) – The drought has taken a toll on crop yields and on farmers’ mental health.
And a study by UNL shows that rural Nebraskans are more pessimistic than they’ve been in the past decade.
Paula Peterson, a farmer near Waverly, said the unpredictable nature of farming can make many feel helpless when things go wrong.
“I don’t know if we’ve had a normal year in I don’t know how many years,” she said. “I think that’s the new normal. You just have to roll with whatever comes.”
Suicide rates among farmers and ranchers are twice as high than other occupations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Peterson said there are several factors that add into that.
“We don’t have control over the weather, we don’t have control over the prices,” she said. “Equipment prices, supply chain issues, they’re all so many things that are out of our control. But we just have to keep going, day by day.”
And recently, the drought has added to the stress.
For some farmers, these problems can feel isolating.
“For us, we’ve always got someone to talk to,” Peterson said of her and her husband, Tom. “I think you’ve got some guys that try to do it all on their own. And those are the ones that, as a neighbor, you’ve really got to be looking out for them.”
Money is a major cause of stress for farmers, too, as farm equipment can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Peterson said even maintaining equipment can be costly.
“Anytime we go into a service, we’re walking out with a $20,000 bill, and that’s bare minimum,” she said.
Peterson said farmers should be honest with those around them and ask for help if things start to feel overwhelming.
“Know when you’re seeing signs of stress and don’t be afraid to have those conversations,” she said. “You have to stop and listen.”
The Nebraska Farm Bureau has a resource for farmers who need assistance called Farm State of Mind.
And there is the Nebraska Rural Response Hotline, which offers emergency food assistance, mental health vouchers and more.
