“Ranchers, cowboys, & farmers face unique mental health challenges that are often invisible to the outside world. The pressures of isolation, financial instability, and the demands of a physically exhausting lifestyle create a heavy burden that too many carries alone. This silent battle is fought in a culture where toughness is prized, and asking for help is misconceived as weakness. Agriculturalists sustain communities and care for the land, yet they are often left without support.”
– Sterling Drake
Listed below are mental health resources and communities designed to create spaces for them to share their struggles and ensure they have access to the treatment that can truly make a difference. No one should have to face these challenges in silence.
If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org
If this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
For direct mental health resources, visit the American Farm Bureau Federation Mental Health Directory.
Other Mental Health Communities
Wild Courage
Wild Courage, an Idaho-based organization, supports the mental health of ranchers & cowboys by providing an environment for them to share their stories and struggles. Through their podcast and collaborations with counselors & coaches, they offer tailored resources & support, fostering vulnerability and changing perceptions around men’s mental health in rural America.
Rural Minds
Rural Minds is a US non-profit that works to improve mental health in rural America. They provide free resources, education & support, run resilience programs and awareness campaigns to address the unique mental health challenges and stigma faced by these communities.
Farm Aid
Farm Aid provides immediate & effective support services to farm families in crisis. Call the FARM AID hotline at 800-FARM-AID (327-6243), Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Time, if you need to talk to someone directly. Navigating life’s intricate fabric, choices unfold paths to the extraordinary, demanding creativity, curiosity, and courage for a truly fulfilling journey.
No More Empty Saddles
No More Empty Saddles is a Wyoming-based nonprofit focused on suicide and addiction prevention in the cowboy and rodeo communities. The organization provides education, peer support, and access to mental health resources tailored to the western lifestyle. By fostering open discussions and reducing stigma, it helps ranchers and rodeo participants address mental health challenges and promotes well-being in these communities.
Sterling Drake 