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What happens when farmers

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aren't able to manage

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their mental health?

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Just a heads up and warning

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I am going

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to be discussing suicide

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in this video.

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I'm Steven Potter

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a reporter

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with PBS Wisconsin news.

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With stresses

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like disruptive weather

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crop pricing changes

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and even sick animals

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the problems that farmers

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face are a mixed bag

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of uncontrollable

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and unpredictable issues.

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When these problems pile up

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it can be sometimes too much

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for farmers to handle.

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And in an increasing

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number of cases, farmers

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who have struggled

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with their mental health

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have died by suicide.

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National statistics show

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that farmers and agriculture

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workers are

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three-and-a-half times

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more likely to die

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this way.

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Given that severity

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there are nonprofit groups

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and government agencies

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working to address it.

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But is

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what's being done enough?

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And what else should

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and could be done?

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And what are the barriers

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still preventing farmers

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from seeking help

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for their mental health

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before it's too late?

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To learn more about this

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find my story about it

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at pbswisconsin.org.