Concern grows due to suicide rates among farmers and construction workers

According to the Department of Agriculture farmers are 3.5 times more likely to die by suicide than the general population.

Now, consider its been tumultuous year for them due to drought and tariffs - and there's been even more concern for their well being from leaders in both fields.

"With support from the legislature, we have three mental health counselors," notes Minnesota Department of Ag Commissioner Thom Petersen. "We have 10 farm advocates that are both free and confidential to farmers, and I can tell you that those advocates and those mental health counselors are busy right now."

The rate among construction workers is second only to farmers due to substance use, which often times can start from an injury suffered on the job.

John Burcaw with the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest says their campus is prepared to address the issue.

'We are really proud of the fact that we are the only apprenticeship in Minnesota and maybe beyond, that has licensed behavioral health clinicians on campus," Burcaw adds. "Every day we have a student."

It's almost four times more common among males than females, and Petersen explains why this is so common in agriculture-related fields.

"You know, you're dealing with so much right now," he says. "You're dealing with changing prices, world economy, and then the pressure of leading a farm is tough. Stress is there. Farming can be very isolating and it's easy to kind of bottle up."

Both professions have extensive support groups that are free and confidential.

Last year, the state released preliminary data showing the state's suicide rate last year in entirely rural counties was twice that of the Twin Cities metro counties. Rural counties make up about 1.6% of the Minnesota population and 2.8% of all suicide deaths.

"There's a pretty clear linear relationship between the increasingly rural counties and higher suicide rates," says Minnesota Department of Health epidemiologist Stefan Gingerich.

Minnesota's 988 Lifeline Centers answered just over 90,000 contacts in 2024, a 75% increase from the year prior.

The Department of Health shows the state's suicides totaled 813 among residents.

"We're looking at a rate of about 13.9 per 100,000 people," Gingerich explains. "2023 was 13.8 per 100,000 people, and both of those years are lower than 2022 when the rate crept above 14 per 100,000 people. So that was the first time in state history that the rate has been that high. It's nice to see it come down, and we're hoping that continues in the future."

If you need emotional or mental health support, or are worried about someone else, please call or text 988 or visit 988Lifeline to chat online with a trained specialist.