OTTAWA – Mental health among the agriculture industry is a rising concern. As part of the Illinois Department of Agriculture’s, National Farm Safety and Health week, Tuesday is being recognized at Farmer Health & Suicide Prevention. Living in rural Illinois, its important to understand that this year farmers faced many economic uncertainties from tariffs and trade wars, to an unseasonably wet spring. LaSalle County’s Farm Bureau President David Isermann says this year has been especially stressful and it could lead to the start of depression for local farmers. According to the Center for Disease Control, suicides among farmers are 1.5 times higher than the national average of the general population. Isermann is encouraging the ag community to stick together, lend a helping hand when possible and reach out if you need someone to talk to. LaSalle County’s Farm Bureau is planning a meeting to discuss more on this topic after harvest season.
