A coalition of over 30 rural and healthcare organizations, including the Norco Co-operative, is urgently calling for immediate action to tackle the escalating mental health crisis in agriculture. In a joint statement released ahead of the upcoming federal election and budget, the coalition is urging the Australian Government to allocate $50 million over five years to address the crisis affecting agricultural workers, particularly farmers.
Norco CEO Michael Hampson emphasized the importance of the issue, citing the 2023 National Farmer Wellbeing Report, which the farmer-owned co-operative released in partnership with the National Farmers’ Federation. The report highlighted the severe mental health challenges faced by farmers and underscored the need for immediate government funding.
“We knew that farmer mental health was an important area of focus that needed much greater attention. However, the data that we uncovered was incredibly confronting and made it abundantly clear that the issues at hand across our country were much bigger than what Norco could solve for on its own,” said Hampson. “The welfare of our farmers needs a whole-of-industry and government approach if they are to be addressed in a truly meaningful way. As an industry and as a nation, we simply owe it to our farmers.”
Dr. Tim Driscoll, State Manager for Mental Health at the Royal Flying Doctor Service Queensland and Chair of the initiative’s steering committee, highlighted the sobering statistics behind the call for action. “A farmer dies by suicide every 10 days—up to twice the rate of the general working population. Poor mental health and suicide are having a devastating impact on rural families, communities, and businesses right now, and we need federal help to fix it,” Dr. Driscoll said. “The wellbeing of people in agriculture is impacted by increasingly complex and compounding events like weather and natural disasters, financial stress, and geographic or social isolation.”
National Farmers’ Federation President David Jochinke reinforced the need for increased support: “Farming can be tough, and there needs to be the right resources in place to help farmers cope with the challenges they face. A farmer’s greatest asset isn’t their land, livestock, or produce; it’s their own wellbeing and the wellbeing of the people around them.”
Associate Professor Kate Gunn, a clinical psychologist and founder of ifarmwell, stressed the urgency of investing in farmer wellbeing: “There is an urgent need for coordinated, farmer-friendly, evidence-based approaches to address this critical issue.” Ifarmwell has also endorsed the joint statement, noting that support from the Australian Government is crucial for rapidly and effectively reaching farmers on a national scale.
The principles outlined in the joint statement were shaped by the National Forum on Mental Health and Wellbeing in Agriculture in March 2024, and refined by a steering committee convened by the National Farmers’ Federation. The coalition’s call for immediate funding is a step toward addressing the unique mental health needs in agriculture and ensuring the long-term wellbeing of Australia’s farming communities.
