Let’s Talk About Herbicides and Well-Being

"I used to spray my yard - now that I am sick, I wish I would have known the dangers."

Why What’s Being Sprayed Matters for Our Mental, Physical, and Emotional Health

In today’s world, most people don’t give much thought to what’s being sprayed on their front lawn, down their street, or around the local schoolyard. But for some, these “routine applications” of herbicides — substances used to kill unwanted plants and weeds — are more than a simple nuisance. They can become the silent trigger for a cascade of health issues that disrupt the body, the mind, and in some cases, the will to live.

The Hidden Danger in Everyday Exposure

Herbicides are a category of pesticides that are intended to control plant growth, but their effects don't stop at plants. The most well-known example, glyphosate (the active ingredient in Roundup), has been widely scrutinized for its potential role in numerous health conditions. Chronic exposure — especially in chemically sensitive individuals or those already compromised — has been linked to:

• Neurological disorders (including tremors, seizures, Parkinsonism-like symptoms)

• Respiratory illnesses (worsening asthma, chemical-induced reactive airway disease)

• Mental health disruptions (depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation)

A 2020 study published in Environmental Health found that long-term exposure to pesticides, including herbicides, can significantly increase the risk of developing depression and other psychiatric disorders.¹ Another peer-reviewed study in Frontiers in Public Health (2019) tied occupational pesticide exposure to a 49% increased risk of depression, especially in rural populations.²

The Mental Toll: More Than Just the Body

When we think of mental illness, we often forget about environmental triggers. Yet, neurotoxins like herbicides can cross the blood-brain barrier, disrupt neurotransmitter function, and damage the gut-brain axis — all of which are crucial for emotional regulation and cognitive health.

For people already struggling with mental health conditions, exposure can exacerbate symptoms, sometimes triggering breakdowns or suicidal ideation. In fact, people who experience sudden-onset psychiatric symptoms with no clear trauma history often report environmental exposure to toxicants, including herbicides.

“I started feeling numb. My thoughts weren’t my own anymore. I couldn’t explain why I suddenly didn’t want to live.” – Anonymous submission to AASP THEY MATTER

Asthma, Neurodiversity, and the Forgotten Populations

Asthmatic individuals — especially children — are particularly vulnerable. When herbicides are sprayed, tiny particles become airborne and are inhaled deeply into the lungs. This can lead to severe flare-ups, ER visits, and long-term damage to lung tissue.

But even more overlooked are individuals with neurodiversity (autism, ADHD, sensory processing disorders) or those with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). These populations often experience heightened responses to chemical exposures, including panic attacks, disassociation, and suicidal despair that stem from sensory overload and inflammation.

Children, veterans, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals often fall through the cracks — many unaware that their neurological symptoms may not be psychological, but environmental.

Why This Is a Suicide Prevention Issue

We talk a lot about mental health in terms of chemical imbalance or trauma, but what about environmental factors? When individuals are exposed to invisible triggers, dismissed by professionals, and told it's all in their head, the result is alienation, hopelessness, and often, silence.

AASP THEY MATTER recognizes that true suicide prevention is not just therapy or hotlines — it’s acknowledging all the factors that make people want to give up on life. If someone is being harmed in their own home, at school, or in their community by something as insidious as herbicide exposure — we must stand up and speak out.

What You Can Do

• Ask questions when you see spraying in your neighborhood.

• Educate your community on low-tox or no-spray alternatives.

• Support legislation that limits the use of toxic herbicides in public spaces.

• Help those affected by donating to grassroots organizations like AASP THEY MATTER, who work directly with individuals harmed by environmental and systemic failures.

“No one believed me until I was too far gone. I wish someone had told me this was even possible.”– A suicide attempt survivor living with pesticide-related neurological damage

References

1. Beard JD, Umbach DM, Hoppin JA, et al. (2014). Pesticide exposure and depression among male private pesticide applicators in the Agricultural Health Study. Environmental Health Perspectives.

2. Sanborn M, Kerr KJ, Sanin LH, et al. (2007). Systematic review of pesticide human health effects. BMC Public Health.

3. Mostafalou S, Abdollahi M. (2013). Pesticides and human chronic diseases: Evidences, mechanisms, and perspectives. Toxicology and Applied Pharmacology.

4. Grandjean P, Landrigan PJ. (2014). Neurobehavioural effects of developmental toxicity. The Lancet Neurology.

5. Peiris-John R, Wickremasinghe R. (2008). Impact of low-level exposure to organophosphates on human reproduction and survival. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg.

Disclaimer: The information found on AASP THEY MATTER / Action & Awareness for Suicide Prevention posts are not meant to treat, cure, diagnose or heal you or anyone else. These posts are for educational purposes only. If you are in need of medical care please consult with a qualified medical professional.