Death on the Farm

Details

• Personal Author:
  Vance NK
• Description:
  For decades, farmers across the country have been dying by suicide at higher rates than the general population. The exact numbers are hard to determine, mainly because suicides by farmers are under-reported (they may get mislabeled as hunting or tractor accidents, advocates for prevention say) and because the exact definition of a farmer is elusive. The suicide rate for male farmers has remained high compared to female farmers: just under two times that of the general population. This isn't just a problem in the U.S.; it's an international crisis. India has had more than 270,000 farmer suicides since 1995. In France, a farmer dies by suicide every two days. In China, farmers are killing themselves to protest the government's seizing of their land for urbanization. In Ireland, the number of suicides jumped following an unusually wet winter in 2012 that resulted in trouble growing hay for animal feed. In the U.K., the farmer suicide rate went up by 10 times during the outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in 2001, when the government required farmers to slaughter their animals. Finally, in Australia, the rate is at an all-time high following two years of drought. Many farming families are experiencing financial and emotional stress as a result of changes in the economy, weather and politics. There are several signs or symptoms when a farm family may be in need of help. These are signs that can be observed by friends, extended family members, neighbors, milk haulers, veterinarians, clergy persons, school personnel or health and human service workers. These signs include: Change in routines.; Care of livestock declines.; Increase in illness.; Increase in farm or ranch accidents.; Appearance of farmstead declines.; Children show signs of stress. This safety blast also lists coping strategies. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Agriculture Farmers Health Promotion Mental Health Mortality Nervous System Occupational Health Public Health Safety Sex Characteristics Suicide

  More +
• Keywords:
  Agricultural Industry Agricultural Safety Fatalities Health Promotion Mental Health Psychological Responses Public Health Sex Factors
• Publisher:
  The Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention, and Education
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Newsletter
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 6 ; Texas
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053380
• Citation:
  Monthly Safety Blast. Tyler, TX: The Southwest Center for Agricultural Health, Injury Prevention, and Education, 2015 Feb; :website
• Email:
  agcenter@uthct.edu
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• NORA Priority Area:
  Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Texas Health Center at Tyler
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20010930
• Source Full Name:
  Monthly Safety Blast
• End Date:
  20270929
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:600789c988da7de439f5a56e3c3e482cc65549089781166c0be9c0687186f8e2f08d87ba701f1e6fd50a865e8723c2cb5209f74498c45d5c7ec63a1565da16c3
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216146/cdc_216146_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 331.74 KB ]