Mental Health Month and Ag Pt 1
From the Ag Information Network, this is today’s Fruit Grower Report. As we reach the end of May and Mental Health Month, let’s remember our friends and loved ones in the ag industry.
Washington Policy Center’s Director of Agriculture, Pam Lewison says anyone who is struggling with any kind of mental health stressor should take that first step and call the 988 Help Line …
LEWISON … “That said, because my area of focus is in agriculture, I like to take this particular month to focus a lot on agriculture and the unique stressors in ag.”
Agriculture, Lewison says has a higher suicide rate than most …
LEWISON … “One in four farmers are slated to take their life on a regular basis in agriculture, making it one of the riskiest jobs you can have in the United States.”
And here in Washington, Lewison says it’s worse …
LEWISON … “It’s a lot more expensive to operate a farm here when you look at things like fuel costs, labor costs, and input costs. And then you have sort of a myriad of compounding issues.”
Issues like bankruptcy …
LEWISON … “The post most recently that is on our website deals particularly with bankruptcies. Bankruptcies in agriculture, year over year in the west, have increased 54%.”
Listen tomorrow for why agriculture is such a stress-filled profession and what we need to do.
