Australian farmers‘ mental health has declined in recent years, with 30% reporting a decline, according to the recently released National Farmer Wellbeing Report.
According to the report commissioned by Norco in collaboration with the National Farmers’ Federation (NFF), nearly half of the Australian farmers (45%) have felt depressed in recent years, with nearly two-thirds (64%) experiencing anxiety. It is a common occurrence for one in every seven (14%).
The Report also found that nearly half of the Australian farmers (45%) had considered self-harm or suicide, and nearly a third (30%) had attempted self-harm or suicide.
The NFF said Australian farmers are twice as likely to commit suicide as the overall population, with the data indicating one farmer committing suicide every 10 days.
Over the last five years, over a quarter of farmers (27%) said feelings of loneliness or isolation and restricted access to mental health treatments had had the greatest impact on their mental health.
Weather or natural disasters (47%), financial stress (36%), and inflation and cost pressures (35%), according to the Report, were the top three variables influencing farmer mental health.
It also discovered that 88% of Australian farmers had had their farming operations seriously damaged by natural disasters in the last five years, with an average cost of $1.4 million per farm.
One in every five Australian farmers (20%) reported feeling fully dejected and ready to give up after an event, of the 40% who have considered leaving the profession, nearly a quarter name the impact of natural disasters as the primary reason.
Norco CEO Michael Hampson stated that while the research findings are heartbreaking, it was critical to realising how serious the mental health crisis had grown, especially in light of recent natural disasters.
“We saw first-hand the devastating impacts the unprecedented flooding event twelve months ago combined with the ongoing wet weather has on our farmers, many of whom are still rebuilding physically, financially, and emotionally,” Hampson said.
According to Hampson, combine this with years of severe drought, bushfires, and now increased input costs across all farming sectors, and it’s terrible that many farmers are struggling.
The Report also found that 76% of Australian farmers felt the public undervalues their role and that rural and remote regions are falling behind in public policies and services, with 11% requesting additional government help and funding.
“Our farmers really are the backbone of this nation and work tirelessly to deliver essential goods to feed the Australian public, so it’s clear that more work needs to be done to acknowledge this and plug the appreciation gap,” Hampson said.
Hampson stated that choosing Australian products over foreign and imported products will help ensure Australian farmers feel valued.
According to Hampson, Norco already has various support measures in place, including mental health training, access to mental health resources and support, research fundraising, and community wellness activities.
But, he added that Norco, as a 100% farmer-owned co-operative, is taking a longer-term approach to this issue.
He said Norco is committed to developing mental health champions, with field officers, select co-op farmer members, senior executive team, and the Board of Directors all being offered Lifeline Crisis Supporter Training to identify and support those in farming communities who may be struggling.
The Report also shows that farmers often suffer in silence due to fear of sharing their mental health issues and lack of access to help. 17% did not seek or receive help, 11% were too ashamed to do so, and 15% had difficulty finding appropriate services.
NFF Vice President David Jochinke said the data underlines a sense of shame and stigma that many farmers still feel when discussing their mental health, and it urges governments and industry representatives to intervene.
“But beyond that, were also calling on all levels of government to urgently assess the resourcing they provide to farming communities as its clear their unique needs are not being met by existing services. We need dedicated resourcing to tackle farmers’ mental health challenges, and that needs to come from each level of government with leadership from the Commonwealth,” Jochinke stated.
Ross Blanch has been running a farmer-to-farmer help line established and run by Lifeline Queensland to build a ‘farmer army’ of mental health champions.
“Farming is tough, both financially and emotionally, but farmers tend to brush off their issues and say they’ll be alright – but it’s extremely important they have someone to talk to who understands and has experienced the same struggles they are,” Blanch said.
He added, “In the work that I do, I help farmers change their thinking patterns and after an hour and a half of conversation and support, they’re different people – it’s a process and service which truly saves lives.”
