Growing Stress on the Farm: The Expanding Economic and Mental Health Disparities of Rural Missouri

The mental health crisis in rural Missouri is more challenging than in urban communities, but may be particularly severe for the agricultural community. Recent studies, media coverage and congressional action suggest the unique set of external challenges faced by farmers and ranchers are resulting in extremely adverse mental health outcomes in agricultural communities. Contributing to mental health challenges on the farm, recent extreme weather events, economic pressure and foreign trade policies have combined to produce a series of lean years for agricultural producers not seen since the farm crisis of the 1980s.

While the U.S. economy has experienced quarter-over-quarter growth since the end of the recession in 2008-2009, the farm sector has experienced six periods of recession.

Missouri has nearly 16,000 fewer family farms today compared to 20 years ago, and bankruptcies are on the rise. Bushel prices have fallen by 47% since 2012, while farm income and credit conditions have deteriorated.

Pervasive stigma and geographic barriers to accessing mental health care can prevent all who seek behavioral health services in rural Missouri from seeking help for stress, anxiety and depression. Each of Missouri’s 99 rural counties is a designated Mental Health Professional Shortage Area, and with just 3.7% of the recommended supply filled, Missouri faces the largest shortage of behavioral health care providers in the U.S.

Suicide is growing at an alarming rate in rural Missouri. Between 2003 and 2017, the suicide rate among rural Missourians grew by 78%, and throughout the last decade, their hospital emergency department visits for suicide attempt or ideation increased 177%. Rural men between the ages of 35 and 44 have triple the statewide suicide mortality rate.

Missouri is home to multiple innovative programs designed to improve mental health access and outcomes for rural residents, but additional investments are needed.

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