Summary: Service Provision Related Barriers to, and Facilitators of Farmers’ Mental Health

The prevalence of suicide in farmers is approximately double that of the rest of the Australian population, therefore, it is key to understand how the health system may influence a farmer's ability to seek help. Before this study, it was unclear why farmers did not typically seek support for mental health issues. Help-seeking is defined in this study as an intention to access professional support for mental health issues, suicide-related thoughts and feelings of distress (p. 2). Farmers experience many unique challenges particularly climate events such as droughts, floods and fires which take a toll on their mental health. Moreover, practical support in relation to climate events would improve farmers mental health. It is also important that the health services provided have a thorough understanding of rural cultural knowledge because the services need to meet their unique needs.

This study interviewed farmers, farmers partners and medical practitioners to determine which three major factors affected how and if farmers accessed health services. They found “three key themes [which] emerged from the three respondent groups: (1) The interactions between health service providers and farmers, (2) the systems that encompass the health services, and (3) the engagement with digital mental health services” (p.10). In relation to theme 1, this study found that farmers desired health services which understood farming life also referred to as bush knowledge. It also found that farmers willingness to access healthcare was based on availability and access, expected care outcomes and constancy of practitioners. Poor farmer experiences when accessing mental health support has led many farmers to feel as though help seeking will not have a beneficial outcome. As a result, farmers are reluctant to seek out health services. Physical access to health support is an issue which may be resolved with alternative technologies such as phone and video calls however, many farmers in this study showed a disinterest to such technologies and were only willing to access face to face support.

This study has shed light on the complex relationship between farmers and seeking help. To improve farmer mental health, we should opt for a multi-faceted approach which takes into consideration the issues raised throughout this study such as a lack of health professionals bush knowledge.

Vayro, C., Brownlow, C., Ireland, M. and March, S., 2020. “Don’t … Break Down on Tuesday Because the Mental Health Services are Only in Town on Thursday”: A Qualitative Study of Service Provision Related Barriers to, and Facilitators of Farmers’ Mental Health Help-Seeking. Administration and Policy in Mental Health and Mental Health Services Research, 48(3), pp.514-527.