May is Mental Health Awareness Month: a timely reminder that mental health affects every workplace, especially in the agriculture industry. Agriculture has the fourth-highest suicide rate by industry, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Employees face unique stressors, from long hours and physically demanding work to seasonal pressures and economic uncertainty.

Workers in these conditions can face elevated risks of anxiety, depression and burnout, yet mental health challenges often go unspoken, particularly in industries where resilience and self-reliance are deeply valued.

Employers and human resources teams can play an important role in creating a culture where mental well-being is recognized as part of overall employee health. Here are a few ways you can support employees this month and year-round:

• Promote Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs): Remind employees of confidential counseling and support resources available through your benefits package.
• Encourage Open Dialogue: Foster a culture where mental health conversations are treated with the same importance as physical health.
• Train Managers to Recognize Warning Signs: Supervisors are often the first to notice when an employee may be struggling.
• Lead by Example: Leadership support can help reduce stigma and encourage resource utilization.

Supporting mental health improves employee wellbeing, strengthens workforce resilience and improves employee engagement and retention.