19/03/2026
Unfortunately, there is there is a lot that is occurring in the world right now. As our service is located in a country town that also supports farmers and their families, we thought it was time that we have an honest conversation - the mental health of farmers.
With the cost of diesel and the accessibility challenges that we are currently experiencing with fuel as a whole, this is placing additional stress on everyone right now.
Unfortunately, this is also making things increasingly difficult for farmers and the agriculture industry. This is on top of things such as flooding and drought that are already being experienced by farmers across the country.
The mental health statistics within the farming community in Australia are quite sobering.
Mental health statistics:
🌱 Farmers are 59-94% more likely to su***de compared to the general population
🌱 64% of farmers report experiencing anxiety while 45% report experiencing depression
🌱 45% of farmers have had thoughts of self-harm or su***de
🌱 30% of the farmers who were surveyed reported attempting self-harm or su***de
🌱 30% of farmers reported a decline in their mental health in recent years with individuals ages 45-64 and 18-34 being affected the most
Primary drivers for mental heath challenges:
🌱 Natural disasters and weather events such as drought, fires and flooding
🌱 Financial pressure has been reported by more than a third of farmers
🌱 Isolation and the lack of services that are available
🌱 Cultural factors that limit access to support
It is important that there are open and honest conversations that are had about the mental health struggles that are being experienced, as well as the factors that are impacting farmers the most. These conversations need to be ongoing.
There are mental health services that exist to support farmers, blue collar workers, and their families. While we are one service in Tamworth that also provides support via telehealth to young people ages 12-30 years, there are also free call services such as : 0488 846 988
