Farmer Suicide in Wisconsin: A Qualitative Analysis

Area of Science:

• Agricultural Health
• Public Health
• Rural Sociology

Background:

• Suicide is a significant public health concern in the United States.
• Farmers face unique stressors that may contribute to elevated suicide risk.
• Understanding these specific contributing factors is essential for targeted prevention efforts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze narrative data and uncover circumstances contributing to suicide among American farmers.
• To identify contextual factors present in the lives of farmers who died by suicide.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative analysis of narrative data from the Wisconsin Violent Death Reporting System (WVDRS).
• Examination of farmer suicides in Wisconsin from 2012-2016.
• Identification of farmers through manual sorting of the 'usual occupation' variable.

Main Results:

• Seventy-three farmer suicides were identified during the study period, predominantly among White, non-Hispanic males.
• Thematic analysis revealed four key themes: physical health issues, grief from relationship loss, ready access to firearms, and the burden of farming.
• Firearm accessibility in rural areas was identified as a significant factor.

Conclusions:

• Unique contextual factors contribute to farmer suicide, highlighting the need for tailored prevention strategies.
• Addressing firearm accessibility is critical, considering the sociocultural context of rural America.
• Healthcare providers serving rural communities should incorporate farmer-specific stressors into suicide risk assessments and management.