Have you ever wondered about those who supply the ingredients of your breakfast, lunch and dinner? Until not so long ago, one would know their dairy supplier personally. The cow farmer would be their neighbour. Some people would grow their own chicken. However, with the industrialization of agriculture and more people moving to urban areas, millions of farmers now work behind the scenes. Changes in climate, the market and global economy have affected their livelihood. It is thus paramount to shed light on the public health issues of local and national produce providers. In recent years, studies have shown a rise in the incidence of depression amongst agriculture workers. But what about a job in farming leads to this?
What is depression?
Just around 280 million people in the world suffer from this affective disorder. While the symptoms vary, most people experience loss of interest across different activities. Feeling “under the weather” for long periods of time, low self-worth, suicidal ideation and disruptions in sleep pattern are also commonly encountered. Mental health programs help prevent as well as combat the effects of such a mood disorder.
What type of agriculture workers suffer from higher rates of depression?
One of the longest studies in the literature was conducted in France. Looking at over 1 million farm managers, around 80.000 suffer from depression. Higher incidences were found in dairy farming and cow farming. Women had depression more, as compared to men. Couples where both partners work in farming showed higher rates.
Healthcare accessibility and affordability as well as isolation are among the stressors. They are harmful to a farmer’s mental health. In some cases, those stressors may lead to Farmer’s syndrome. This includes: shoulder pain, back pain, numbness, nocturia, dyspnea, insomnia, dizziness and abdominal discomfort. Pesticide exposure plays a role as well. Long hours, waking up at dawn and feeling out of control in regards to weather conditions as well as aspects related to the health of the farm animals are precipitating factors.
Public health sectors are busier than ever. It is as such important to raise awareness about the needs of different groups in the community and workforce. If you found this article interesting, read more here. See you in the next one!
About the author
My whole life I’ve been a dog person until I accidentally became a cat mom to Zibi (short for Beelzebub). My name is Miruna, I’m a fourth year medical student and my biggest flex is that I spend my Monday and Friday nights sword fighting.