FARM CRISIS AND SUICIDE: DYING ON THE VINE?

This study investigated the recent concern that economic crisis has led to increased suicide rates among farmers. The number of suicides for farmers and two control occupations (forestry and transportation workers) from 1980-1985 were obtained from 15 states in the U. S. Suicide frequencies were converted into rates using occupational population data from the 1980 U. S. Census. To answer: (a) whether suicide rates were greater for farm than for control occupations, and (b) whether there was a relationship between fluctuations in farm economy and suicide rates over time, an analysis of covariance was performed. The rate of suicide for farmers was found to be greater than that of truck drivers, but no different than forestry rates. It was also found that a declining farm economy corresponded to increasing state suicide rates (i.e., positive correlation). Suicides for all occupations were found to be predominantly male and predominantly white.