Famers in Australia are committing suicide because of the drought.
With the drought now in its sixth year, Australia’s big dry is the worst in over a century. …
The suicide rate among farmers is already twice the national average. Now, Beyond Blue has produced new figures showing that one farmer commits suicide in the country every four days. It also estimates that more than 300,000 rural Australians experience depression each year, but only a small number seek help.
Sad. During a field trip in Andhra Pradesh, some farmers told us that the number of suicides is grossly miscalculated. A large number of deaths in the community are registered as “food poisoning”, “stomach ache” etc. The real reason is of course the consumption of pesticides with the intent of killing oneself. Sadder.
