Women who grow coffee in Latin America carry a quiet load. These women deal with sadness, worry, and stress more often than men. They work on farms, care for kids, cook, clean, and still earn less money.
Fewer chances to lead or speak up add to their stress. Many feel isolated because villages are far apart and there are no support networks nearby to speak openly. Researchers point out triple burden responsibilities: farm moms also shoulder invisible labor like childcare planning and daily meal prep, alongside fieldwork, compounding their stress in coffee communities.
Few speak up; distance and silence deepen stress.
Cultural stigma also blocks help. In small towns, people often think mental health problems bring shame. Some believe strong women must stay silent. Lack of female doctors and long trips to clinics make visits hard. Money is spent on food or seeds before therapy.
New programs are trying to change this. A group named SANA gives free teletherapy through cell phones. A project in Colombia called Beans to Minds showed that 100 out of 100 women said they felt listened to. Ninety-two percent also said their family issues got better after online chats with local psychologists.
These programs use local therapists who speak the same language and share customs. They meet women in groups online or in village halls. This lowers fear and cost. It also creates new support networks among neighbors. The five-month program includes weekly educational sessions and in-person workshops that build on themes from teletherapy sessions.
Data shows more women than men now ask for mental health help, especially younger farmers. Yet they still skip sessions if harvest time or childcare calls. Some women take extra jobs outside the farm, raising stress but also pushing them to seek care.
Experts say the next step is making mental health part of normal check-ups, not a separate or secret visit. Leaders of coffee cooperatives are starting to include mental care in training. If that trend continues, the quiet load may grow lighter for the women who grow the world’s daily cup.
