Thesis
Investigating suicide deaths in agricultural managers using National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data
University of Iowa
Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
Autumn 2025
Abstract
BackgroundSuicide accounts for thousands of lives annually in the United States, with disproportionately high rates among individuals in agricultural occupations. Despite this elevated risk, limited research has examined differences in suicide-related factors across agricultural subgroups. Crop production (farming) and livestock production (ranching) share similar occupational stressors, yet may differ in how individual, interpersonal, and contextual factors contribute to suicide risk. This study aims to address that gap by exploring how demographic characteristics, individual-level, interpersonal-level, community-level, societal-level, and county-level factors, such as rurality and access to care affect suicidality differently among farm and ranch managers.
Methods
This study analyzed suicide deaths among white, non-Hispanic men who were farm and ranch managers in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Violent Death Reporting System provided data for this study between years 2013 and 2021. Additionally, County Health Rankings & Roadmaps provided descriptive data on rurality and access to mental health and primary care services for this study. Descriptive statistics and Chi-square (χ²) tests were conducted to examine associations between agricultural subgroup (farm vs. ranch managers) and individual, interpersonal, and contextual factors.
Results
This study found that ranch managers were more likely to disclose their intent to die by suicide. When adjusting for age, ranch managers showed significantly higher rates of disclosure of their intent to die by suicide, and to have had a financial problem at the time of death in the 65 and under age group. However, farm managers were more likely to reside in more rural counties, particularly those experiencing shortages of mental health providers and primary care physicians at the time of death.
Conclusions
We found that farm managers who live in the most rural areas often lack access to health care, while rancher managers, despite disclosing their intent to die by suicide, do not seem to be using the care that is available to them. This highlights the need for mental health providers to reach out more effectively to farming communities and to adapt existing practices to better meet the unique needs of ranching communities.
Details
- Title: Subtitle
- Investigating suicide deaths in agricultural managers using National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) data
- Creators
- Chase Lovercheck
- Contributors
- Diane S Rohlman (Advisor)Jonathan A Davis (Committee Member)Carri Casteel (Committee Member)
- Resource Type
- Thesis
- Degree Awarded
- Master of Science (MS), University of Iowa
- Degree in
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Date degree season
- Autumn 2025
- Publisher
- University of Iowa
- Number of pages
- xi, 72 pages
- Copyright
- Copyright 2025 Chase Lovercheck
- Grant note
Chase Lovercheck received financial support from the Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety while conducting this research. The Heartland Center is supported by Training Grant No. T42OH008491 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention/National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
- Language
- English
- Date submitted
- 08/06/2025
- Description bibliographic
- Includes bibliographical references (page 53-59).
- Public Abstract (ETD)
Background
Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S., with agricultural workers experiencing some of the highest rates. Although farmers and ranchers face similar occupational stressors, this study explored whether suicide-related factors such as age, mental health status, substance use, relationship challenges, suicide-specific circumstances, and access to health care impact them differently.
Methods
We looked at suicide deaths among white, non-Hispanic male farm and ranch managers in the U.S. between 2013 and 2021 using data collected by the CDC s National Violent Death Reporting System. We also examined how easy it was to get health care in counties where they lived, using information from the County Health Rankings & Roadmaps database. Statistical tests were used to compare suicide-related factors between farmers and ranchers
Results
The study found that ranch managers were more likely than farm managers to talk about their intent to die by suicide. Among those aged 65 and under, ranch managers were also more likely to disclose suicidal intent, and to have had a financial problem. Farm managers were more likely to live in areas with fewer doctors and mental health providers, and in more rural counties.
Conclusion
Ranch managers were more likely to talk about suicide and report financial struggles, but they often lived in areas with better access to health care. In contrast, farm managers were less likely to live near health care providers. These findings suggest that farmers may need improved access to care, while ranchers might not be using the services available to them. Mental health professionals should focus on reaching farming communities and tailor their approaches to better support ranchers.
- Academic Unit
- Occupational and Environmental Health
- Record Identifier
- 9985135048902771
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