Georgia Farmers Face Mental Health Crisis as Suicide Rates Increase

Grady Newsource - University of Georgia ^ | Oct 30, 2026 | Brielle Logan

[CondoleezzaProtege]

The CDC lists mental health as a public concern with studies suggesting farmer suicides are double that of the general population.

Farming is a uniquely stress-inducing job and lifestyle. Farm bankruptcies continue to rise due to unpredictable market forces that all lie outside of the farmers’ control…These include increasing costs like fertilizer and diesel, and the pressure of unpredictable weather, including droughts, hurricanes and climate extremes.

The mental health toll this takes on farmers is extreme…

“At the end of the day, they feel like they’re fighting a losing battle, and … some people think that there’s only one way out, and some people take that road,” said Hand.

The average age of a Georgia farmer is 59 and younger generations are reluctant to take over these family businesses.

“You got these guys that are doing it, and they’re gonna age out, and a lot of their kids don’t want nothing to do with it because they see how hard it is, and it’s like you’re not even making a living really,” said Hand.

Not only are they not financially compensated for the constant hard work, but it’s an isolated job that often goes unnoticed and underappreciated.

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TOPICS: Agriculture; Health/Medicine; Society
KEYWORDS: diesel; farmers; farms; fertilizer; mentalhealth; tariffs

[CondoleezzaProtege]

[Bonemaker]

“These include increasing costs like fertilizer and diesel...”

Whose fault is that? Aren’t we energy independent/self sufficient? Something is rotten in Denmark....and America. Farming has always been a bitch of a life.

[PGalt]

Thanks for posting. Sad. We buy quite a bit from our local farmers. Unfortunately not many can do that.

[central_va]

Sell the farm and learn a trade. Life is too short.