Mental Health Matters

For many farmers, the pressures of agriculture don’t end when the workday does. The financial uncertainty, long hours, isolation and constant demands of farming can take a serious toll on mental health—and farmers are among the occupational groups with some of the nation’s highest suicide rates. Dr. Ariella Barry, a One Health veterinarian with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, is working to change that conversation. She is encouraging farmers to recognize that seeking help is not a sign of weakness, but an important part of taking care of themselves, their families and their farms.