‘Breaking point’: Mental health advocates sound alarm over impact of drought on farmers

Advocates are urging farming communities to speak up, as troubling reports of suicide and mounting debt highlight the urgent need for support.

Farmers and country advocates are sounding the alarm over a steep decline in mental health spreading across regional Victoria as the drought continues to take hold.

Troubling reports of people under increasing stress, mounting debts, and recent reports of suicide in some farming communities have prompted advocates to call on locals to speak up if they think someone is at risk.

Farmers in border communities are in mourning after the recent death of “one of Australia’s finest agronomists” who died by suicide as the drought wreaked havoc.

Naracoorte agronomist Craig Hole’s death has sent shockwaves through South Australia and Victoria’s west.

The Herald Sun has also been told of at least two other cases of suicide in 2025 among Victorian farming communities doing it tough.

Drought is adding to the mental stress on Victorian farmers. Picture: Supplied.

Business owner Tammi Logan says her staff at an on-farm supply shop have noticed a drastic decline in mental health on farm visits, especially in the past three weeks.

“It’s really bad out there,” she said.

“My sales team are coming back and saying some farmers are looking at no hay within the next few days and no water in dams within weeks, and it’s taking its toll.”

Victorian Farmers Federation President Brett Hosking said the risk to people’s livelihoods and ability to cope was a real concern.

“We know a farmer takes his own life every 10 days,” he said.

“That increases in times of drought, times of extra stress.

“It’s not something we want to see, and not something we even like talking about, but it is a reality, and it needs to be addressed.”

A farmers almost-dried up watering hole on a property near Shepparton.

Third-generation Koroit cattle farmer John Bushell said he feared losing colleagues and friends and that “there will be suicides if the government doesn’t step up.”

“If a farmer can’t pay the lad up the road who he’s been dealing with for 20 or 30 years for hay or fertiliser or grain or whatever it is to keep him going, and all of a sudden he can’t pay, then he takes that on board himself, and it wears him down,” he said.

“You don’t have to have depression; you just get cooked just from worrying.”

Mr Bushell said the government had “no respect whatsoever in the rural areas” and that farmers were fuming as they watched “billions and billions of dollars” spent on the Suburban Rail Loop.

“These farmers have paid their taxes all their lives and their generations before and their forefathers.”

Veteran Yambuk cattle farmer Jim Forrest has just spent $500,000 on three months’ worth of hay for his 400 cows.

“I’ve spent all the money we’ve got, so I’ve had to go back to the bank and get more,” he said.

“It just adds to your overall debt.”

Mr Forrest said in the 40 years he’d been farming, he had “never seen it this bad.”

“The last 22 months have been a real challenge, and it gets to you some days, and others you still have to hold yourself together,” he said.

“Times are tough, you get frustrated by it – everyone is frustrated.”

With the local pub closed and no local weekend footy, Mr Forrest added that many in his rural community, like country areas across the state, were largely alone.

“Mental health would be playing on every farmer’s mind at the moment,” he said.

“Country people tend to be on their own in rural areas. No footy or tennis, no gatherings they can go to, to talk about what’s happening,” he said.

“But you have to just keep pushing on.”

Farmers and CFA members protest in front of the Victorian parliament. Picture: David Crosling

The longtime cattle farmer, whose area is experiencing the lowest rainfall on record, questioned how many Victorian farmers would make it through the drought.

“Who knows how many farmers won’t survive,” he said.

Liberal member for southwest Coast Roma Britnell said farmers are desperate and are now reaching out as the crisis threatens to continue into a third year.

“My office is being inundated with calls from people who work with farmers (stock agents, fodder providers, and truck drivers) who are all concerned about the immense toll that this drought is taking on farmers,” she said.

“There is an urgent need for assistance for farmers in southwest Victoria who are at breaking point. Food and fibre production are vital not just to the southwest but also to the Victorian economy.

“Without aid, primary production costs increase, worsening the cost-of-living crisis.”

On Monday, the state government extended its drought package by $15.9 million, which included $900,000 for community health.

Premier Jacinta has also promised more help will be on the way ahead of the Tuesday State Budget.

Originally published as ‘Breaking point’: Mental health advocates sound alarm over impact of drought on farmers