Whats Behind the Farm Crisis?
“The staff at the Farm Stress Line are trained to help you deal with farm stress. We’re farmers and former farmers just like you and we understand the challenges facing rural families. We can put you in touch with people who can help. . . . All calls are confidential.” From a Canadian government Web site. STRESS is now recognized by many health professionals as an occupational hazard of farming. To help farmers cope, there are clinical psychologists who specialize in farm stress, offering such services as support groups and stress hot lines for farming communities. A farmer’s wife named Jane attends a Thursday night group counseling session. “I came because my husband committed suicide,” explains Jane. “His dream had always been to farm the family farm, and I guess if he couldn’t do that, he didn’t want to do anything else.” Many have observed an unprecedented rise in the number of farmers seeking relief from stress. Just what is behind the crisis many farmers are facing?
