We hear a lot today about a mental health crisis among farmers and in rural communities. The statistics are sobering: farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population (www.nih.gov), and male farmers face a suicide rate of 52.1 per 100,000 (National Vital Statistics System United States, 2021). These numbers demand our attention. But they also raise an important question: is this a new problem, or are we finally talking about something that's been there all along?
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Colleen Stegenga, MSW, LCSW-PIP, QMHP, is a therapist and owner of Embracing Change Counseling Services, with offices in Sioux Falls and Mitchell. Reach her at colleen@embracingchangecs.com or visit www.embracingchangecs.com. Â





