Agriculture is Montana’s number one industry, providing $3.7 billion in revenue in 2021.

An important 2016 CDC report and subsequent data review in 2018 shows that farmers (which in this study included farming, ranching, fishing, and forestry) suffer disproportionate rates of suicide in comparison to other occupations.

Researchers have demonstrated that one suicide deeply impacts 25 people, and another 115 are exposed to suicide’s devastating impact. 140 people can be a significant portion of many communities in Montana and other frontier/agricultural states. We need to take action now to save lives.