Government officials are reminding farmers to prioritize their mental health as harvest season comes to a close. Monday morning, Kansas Senator Roger Marshall met with agricultural leaders across the state to share resources to keep kansas farmers and ranchers safe. September is National Suicide Awareness Month, and Marshall says the suicide rate for farmers and ranchers is 3.5 times higher than the average person. Marshall says he wants to keep mental health in the forefront of Kansan’s minds. He says general farm safety is taught at a young age, but not many are taught about mental health and well-being.
Marshall also stressed while some farmers may be the one’s struggling with mental health, the burden trickles down to the families. For anyone struggling with mental health, you can reach out to your local Kansas State Extension Office for resources. A website dedicated to helping rural and farm families with mental health issues is “kansasagstress.org.” Also, don’t forget the suicide hotline, dial 988.
