Australian Farmers Commit Suicide as Hope Evaporates

[Judi Lynn]

Australian Farmers Commit Suicide as Hope Evaporates
By REUTERS
Published: October 19, 2006
Filed at 2:44 a.m. ET

SYDNEY (Reuters) - One Australian farmer commits suicide every four days, defeated by the country's worst drought in 100 years which has left them with dust-bowl paddocks and a mountain of debt, says a national mental health body.

As drought rolls into a sixth year, stoic farmers are reduced to tears under the stress of trying to produce a crop and hold onto land sometimes farmed by the same family for generations.

``One male farmer every four days is committing suicide,'' Jeff Kennett, chairman of beyondblue, said on Thursday.

``My fear is that when under prolonged stress and when they see their assets totally denuded of value, that we will see an increase (in suicides),'' Kennett told local radio.

The rate among male farmers and farm workers is more than twice the national average, the NSW Farmers Association says.
(snip/...)

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-australia-drought-suicide.html?_r=1&oref=slogin

[maddezmom]

1. duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=2567807