HOLTON, Kan. (WIBW) – With the hopes of further raising awareness of mental health for rural communities, the Jackson County Farm Bureau held a Farmwell Forum.
Farmers and ranchers face a suicide rate up to 3.5 times higher than the general population, yet it’s one of the most underserved crises.
Pottawatomie County farmer and rancher Thomas Eisenbarth was one of three speakers to share their personal connection to mental health advocacy.
“I had an uncle who suffered silently in the late 90s, and I have really kind of taken it upon myself to turn that pain into purpose.”
That sparked him to start chipping away at long-standing stigmas and stereotypes surrounding mental health in the ag field.
“It’s such a predatory business in nature, whether it’s renting ground, buying ground, just your reputation is everything in agriculture, so it’s just tough, like if someone thinks that you’re struggling,” Eisenbarth said.
Unpredictability, intense labor, and rural isolation leave many in the agriculture sector struggling internally.
“It’s one of the most unimaginably uncontrollable ways to make a living,” Eisenbarth explained. “So I think our farmers and our ranchers, especially here locally, they deserve that kind of support, because they feed the world, so they need to be taken care of.”
Eisenbarth says a simple solution that can go a long way is checking in on yourself and others.
When asked what changes he’d still like to see, Eisenbarth said more open discussion.
“Events like today. Like every small town across Kansas needs an event like this, wholeheartedly, I believe that.”
If you or someone you know in the field of agriculture is struggling, you’re encouraged to head to kansasagstress.org or call the 24-hour 988 hotline.
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