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Farmers, government leaders recognize rural mental health crisis

State and local government officials say they recognize that many farmers need additional mental health resources.  Jon Hochkammer with the Wisconsin Counties Association tells Brownfield many farmers are struggling right now.  “We’re beginning to hear a lot more on the mental health side, suicide, foreclosures.  Housing is another big issue.”

Hochkammer says it’s sad when the people who feed us struggle to feed themselves.  “With milk prices being so low and how tough it is out there to make a living in the dairy industry, at least for some farmers, it’s getting pretty hard for some of them to put food on the table for their own families.”

And he says it’s often difficult to help farmers.  “They don’t want to ask for help, or they don’t know where to go for help, so again, as a state, it’s something that we’re going to have to keep a close eye on.”

Counseling and referrals are available for free through the Wisconsin state ag department’s Farm Center at (800) 942-2474.

Hochkammer was one of five government officials talking with nearly 100 dairy farmers at a northcentral Wisconsin dairy farm.

The meeting at Miltrim Farms near Athens was one of four hosted by the Professional Dairy Producers of Wisconsin.