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Understanding suicide in Australian farmers.
Fiona Judd1, Henry Jackson, Caitlin Fraser
1Centre for Rural Mental Health, Psychiatry and Psychological Medicine and Bendigo Health Care Group, Monash University School of Psychology, PO Box 126, Bendigo, VIC, 3552, Australia. Fiona.judd@med.monash.edu.au
Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology
|December 13, 2005
Summary
Australian male farmers face higher suicide risks. This study found that while farmers don't have more mental health issues, personality traits, gender, and community attitudes hinder help-seeking, contributing to farmer suicide risk.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Health
- Mental Health Research
- Suicidology
Background:
- Male farmers in Australia exhibit an elevated risk of suicide.
- Understanding the specific factors contributing to this risk is crucial for targeted interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare mental health problem rates between farmers and non-farmer rural residents.
- To identify additional factors contributing to increased suicide risk among farmers.
Main Methods:
- Quantitative analysis of self-report questionnaire data comparing mental health and personality measures between farmers (n=371) and non-farmers (n=380).
- Qualitative semi-structured interviews with farmers (n=32) to explore the interplay of farming context and mental health.
Main Results:
- No significant difference in mental health problem rates between farmers and non-farmer rural residents was found.
- Farmers displayed higher conscientiousness and lower neuroticism. A strong association between maleness and farming was observed.
- Qualitative data revealed significant stressors in farming, limited expression of distress, and attitudinal barriers to help-seeking, especially for male farmers.
Conclusions:
- Elevated farmer suicide rates are not solely explained by higher rates of mental health problems.
- Individual personality traits, gender, and community attitudes that impede acknowledgment and help-seeking for mental health issues are significant risk factors for suicide in farmers.