Critical to break down mental health stigma

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. — A shortage of mental health providers is one of the factors that makes it difficult for those living in rural areas to get the help they need.

“It is suggested there should be 25.9 psychiatrists per 100,000 people, but in Illinois we only have 10.5 psychiatrists per 100,000 people — that’s less than half of the providers we need,” said Adrienne DeSutter, creator of the Sow Hope Grow Hope initiative.

“In rural areas, we have 1.2 psychiatrists per 100,000 people and most areas don’t have any psychiatrists,” said DeSutter during a presentation at the 2025 Rural Mental Health Summit at the Agricenter in Bloomington, hosted by the Southern Illinois University Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development .

In Illinois, there are 9.8 million people who live in a mental health professional shortage area, she reported.

“What’s even more wild to me is that 43% to 53% of the people who either have a mental health condition or are experiencing some sort of mental health crisis are seeing professionals,” DeSutter said.

“So, it comes to no surprise that our suicide rates are 2 to 1 for rural versus urban,” she said. “That’s a telling number that means we have to do something.”

A study at the University of Illinois found that approximately 60% of farmers experience anxiety and depression, DeSutter said.

“And they found out so do the farm children,” she said.

DeSutter, who grew up in the country, but not on a farm, started advocating about mental health in 2018.

“I was surrounded by fields, but I couldn’t tell you what was growing in them until I was about 21 years old,” she said. “I could not tell you what a tractor was versus a combine until I married a farmer.”

“My husband, Drew, is a fourth-generation farmer and he suffers from mental health, so he is the reason I started doing what I do,” she said. “I share information and try to raise awareness to get people motivated to do some things in the mental health realm.”

Along with events like the May 15 summit, which was presented by the SIU Medicine Farm Family Resource Initiative, DeSutter also writes articles and conducts workshops.

“I did it because of him, because I wanted him to know that this is a real issue,” she said.

In addition, to finding resources for her husband, DeSutter said, it was important to provide information for their friends who had similar situations, as well as for children.

“Genetically speaking, we’re probably going to be dealing with mental health conditions at some point in our life with our kids,” she said. “I need to know I’ve done everything I can and there will be resources for them as they get older.”

Farmers deal with many stressors such as weather, financial, isolation, long work hours, family dynamics and work-and-home balance.

“This spring, my husband saw our kids probably a total of 24 hours in five weeks,” DeSutter said.

Another stress factor is the fear of losing the farm.

“If the farm has been in your family for five generations and you lose the farm, it feels like you have failed your entire lineage,” DeSutter said.

Over the past several years, many resources and programs have been developed to help farmers and farm families with their mental health and breaking down the stigma.

“In 2018, we couldn’t even say mental health — it was too much of a barrier,” DeSutter noted.

“It’s been very cool to see as each person or organization built up enough courage to share some piece of mental health, as awkward as it may be,” she said. “It’s been very encouraging to see that we have been pulling down that stigma.”

During a discussion at the Farm Progress Show, one of DeSutter’s farmer friends said that he took medication.

“Then another guy said I do, too, but I thought I was the only one,” she recalled. “When we share, it spreads like wildfire.”

Like many other farm families, the DeSutters are focused on working until the job is complete.

“It’s about what we choose to do,” the farmwife said. “One night, my husband said to his dad, ‘I think I’m going to go home tonight because I need a break.’”

It is important to set boundaries and take care of ourselves, she stressed.

“And the next week dad decided he was going to take a night off,” DeSutter said.

“It takes everyone, no matter if you’re a therapist, a counselor or a farmer,” she said. “Any part you can play to break down the stigma of mental health is really critical.”

The Farm Family Resource Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 833-FarmSOS, or 833-327-6767.

For more information, go to www.siumed.org/farm.