The head of Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture believes stigmas attached to mental health are fading.
Commissioner Thom Petersen says farmer suicides are down in Minnesota while relationship issues are rising.
“Which I think is interesting. So I think we are making progress (and) the stigma is slowly coming down that it’s okay to talk about mental health. We’ve had some real high-profile people talk about it and go through it, so I think that’s been helpful.”
Speaking to Brownfield during Mental Health Awareness Day at the Minnesota State Fair, he says farmers continue to face many stressors.
