The University of Pittsburgh School of Public Health is launching a new study to investigate mental health challenges facing Pennsylvania’s poultry and swine farmers, including challenges exacerbated by infectious disease outbreaks and related disruptions. The exploratory project will examine the factors contributing to depression, anxiety and suicidal ideation within this essential workforce.
The research is supported by a grant of nearly $70,000 from the Poultry and Livestock Center of Excellence, awarded in January.
The project is led by Linda Rose Frank, PhD, MSN, professor in the Department of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology (IDM) and a psychiatric nurse clinical specialist with more than 25 years of clinical experience. She is working alongside Suresh Kuchipudi, PhD, MVSc, MBA, professor and chair of IDM, and Jim Holt, VMD, IDM visiting associate professor and large-animal veterinarian. Both Kuchipudi and Holt are recognized leaders in One Health. Together, the team will explore how various pressures affect farmers’ mental well-being. These pressures include economic instability, livestock disease outbreaks, regulatory requirements, chronic stress and rural isolation.
“Farm work is physically demanding, financially precarious and deeply tied to family identity,” Frank said. “We are seeing concerning trends in depression and suicide among farm workers, but no one has taken a systematic look at why. We want to hear directly from farmers about their lived experiences and what resources they feel would truly help.”
Kuchipudi noted that animal-health crises can have significant personal and economic impacts on farmers. “When a disease like highly pathogenic avian influenza strikes, it is not just an animal-health event; it is a human crisis,” he said. “Farmers face the emotional burden of depopulating flocks or herds, the loss of income and the fear that another outbreak could be around the corner. Understanding these stressors from a One Health perspective is essential if we want to design meaningful and practical support.”
The study was developed in response to concerns raised during last spring’s inaugural annual meeting of the Pennsylvania One Health Consortium, coordinated by the School of Public Health. Farmers, veterinarians and agricultural professionals reported rising stress levels across the state, intensified by animal-disease outbreaks, market volatility and limited access to rural health services.
Researchers will partner with a steering committee of stakeholders, including county officials, federally qualified health centers, agricultural organizations and the Pennsylvania Department of Health, to inform study design and support outreach to farming communities. Approximately 50 farmers across high-need counties will be interviewed, with participants receiving a small incentive for their time.
The interviews will explore daily stressors, barriers to care, stigma and the forms of support farmers believe would make the greatest difference. Findings will guide recommendations for future interventions, resources and state-level advocacy to strengthen farmer well-being.
This work will be shared as part of discussions at the 2026 Pennsylvania One Health Consortium annual meeting, June 25-27, where stakeholders from across animal, human and environmental health will continue addressing the state’s most urgent One Health challenges.
-Clare Collins