America’s farmers are enduring many new and ongoing challenges. From severe weather damaging crops and the need for federal funding to sustain their land, to the impact of tariffs, the Iran war, the high costs of fuel and fertilizer, drought, wildfires and farm closures — it all weighs on the mental health of people in the agricultural industry.
While farmers are known for their stoicism, mental health experts have told “Closer Look” that’s what can lead to farmers bottling up their emotions. Data also reveals farmers are three to five times more likely to die by suicide than the average population, according to the National Rural Health Association.
John P. McElveen is the director of the Georgia Agricultural Wellness Alliance. The organization was founded in 2022, and McElveen has searched for ways to help the state’s farming community with their mental health.
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