Letter to the Hon. Robert Redfield, Dir. of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention - Schumer reveals farmers have suicide rate more than three times higher than general population, stands with Washington County farmers to launch 2-pronged plan to combat devastating trend; with intensifying pressure on farmers, Feds must do far more to reach Upstate NY farmers in pain & save lives in capital region & North Country

Letter

Dear Director Redfield:

I write today to respectfully request the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conduct further research on suicide among farmers. With suicide rates on the rise across the country, it is crucial that the CDC use its epidemiological expertise and surveillance resources to better understand this concerning trend that is devastating our nation's farmers.

Suicide has increasingly become a major public health crisis in the United States. In 2017, a total of 47,173 Americans died by suicide, well above 2016's recorded total of 44,695. This increase aligns with a CDC report that found the national suicide rate was 33% higher in 2017 than it was in 1999, equating to a rate of 14 suicide deaths per 100,000 people. Specifically, in my home state of New York, the suicide rate has increased over 28 percent during the past two decades. Although this nationwide phenomenon has affected all populations, I am particular alarmed by the impact on our farmers.

Farmers face a number of stressors that can negatively influence mental health, including financial issues, farm or business problems, and fear of losing the farm. These stressors, which can be exacerbated by stigma and inadequate access to mental health services in underserved areas, have manifested in a disproportionate rate of suicide among farmers. For instance, one study found that farmers and ranchers, on average, have a suicide rate that is 3.5 times that of the general population. Additionally, a 2018 CDC report on suicide rates by major occupational groups determined that if farmers, ranchers, and agricultural managers were categorized as a separate occupational group, this population would have ranked 1st and 4th in suicides in 2012 and 2015. These findings highlight the urgent need for federal prioritization of research on suicide among farmers.

Our rural farmers are in desperate need of mental health support, yet the CDC has not conducted a comprehensive study of farmer suicides. Action must be taken to address this tragic epidemic, and the vital first step is to develop a data set that will serve as a roadmap for interventions. Therefore, I urge the CDC to conduct further research on suicide among farmers nationwide, particularly in New York. The agency has acknowledged that the 2018 report was limited in scope, as it only encompassed data from the 17 states that were participating in the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) in both 2012 and 2015. Also, it is estimated that the 17 states included in the original study only represented roughly a quarter of all farms across the country. Now that all 50 states are participating in the NVDRS, the CDC has data that is representative of the entire nation and the farmer population. An updated analysis, one that includes New York farmers, would not only offer a more precise measure of suicide prevalence, but could also better inform research on risk factors and intervention methods associated with farmer suicide.

Furthermore, I encourage the CDC to collaborate with the Department of Agriculture and the Department of Labor in order to ensure that the most up-to-date and precise data on farmers and their health outcomes can be included in future analyses. Our farmers deserve nothing less than the most accurate information that the government has to offer.

I am proud to represent nearly 55,000 people employed by over 33,000 farms in the state of New York. While I am grateful for your actions to date in support of suicide surveillance and prevention, I urge you to further prioritize this work within the CDC's activities and funding. I stand ready to work with you, and welcome any input on ways in which Congress can assist in these efforts. Thank you for your consideration of these important requests.

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