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Rural Response to Farmer Mental Health and Suicide Prevention – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Response to Farmer Mental Health and Suicide Prevention.

Meeting the Behavioral Health Needs of Farm Families in Times of Economic Distress
Offers strategies to support development and integration of behavioral health services across healthcare and community-based organizations, including leveraging payment systems to support coordinated care for farm families and aligning federal grant programs to address mental health and substance use disorders. Features recommendations including integrating primary and behavioral care for initial treatment of mental health and substance abuse concerns, expanding the workforce to improve rural behavioral health services capacity, increasing telehealth services, and expanding private and public insurance coverage.
Author(s): Andrew F. Coburn, Alva O. Ferdinand, Alana Knudson, et al.
Date: 02/2022
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Policy Research Institute Rural Health Panel
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Farmer and Rural Perceptions of Mental Health
Presents findings of a poll of 2,004 rural adults, addressing impressions of mental health stigma in rural and agricultural communities. Describes barriers to seeking mental health assistance, who rural adults feel comfortable talking to about stress or mental health issues, and the perceived mental health impacts of farm stress on farmers and farm workers. Compares results to polls conducted in 2019 and 2020.
Date: 12/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Farm Bureau Federation
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An Analysis of Suicide Risk Factors among Farmers in the Midwestern United States
Study examining psychological, social, and contextual risk factors for suicide among farmers. Draws data from 600 surveys of agricultural producers in Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and South Dakota. Discusses rates of depression, anxiety, farming-specific stressors, social support, and coping strategies.
Author(s): Andrea Bjornestad, Courtney Cuthbertson, Jessie Hendricks
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(7), 3563
Date: 03/2021
Type: Document
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Addressing Higher Risk of Suicide Among Farmers in Rural America
Policy brief highlighting factors contributing to the higher risk of suicide among farmers, including financial pressures, social pressures, and access to care. Offers policy recommendations to promote and improve farmers' mental health.
Author(s): Rosalie Eisenreich, Carolyn Pollari
Date: 02/2021
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Association
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Impacts of COVID-19 on Rural Mental Health
Presentation slides from an American Farm Bureau Federation poll of 2,000 rural adults in December 2020, comparing results to a similar April 2019 poll. Addresses perceived importance of mental health, issues of stigma, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, barriers to care, and other mental health topics. Tracks response trends between 2019 and 2020, highlighting consistent aspects of the survey and changes in impressions and experiences.
Date: 12/2020
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: American Farm Bureau Federation
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Mental Health in Rural America
Discusses mental health issues among farmers and ranchers. Highlights some of the stressors for farmers and farm families, as well as strategies and resources to help cope with farm-related stress.
Date: 08/2020
Type: Video/Multimedia
Sponsoring organization: American Farm Bureau
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Developing and Implementing Farm Stress Training to Address Agricultural Producer Mental Health
Offers an overview of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency online training program for agribusiness professionals to offer mental health resources to farmers and ranchers. Describes issues of mental healthcare access for rural and farm populations and the process of developing the training program, as well as challenges, successes, and practical implications of the program.
Author(s): Courtney Cuthbertson, Alison Brennan, John Shutske, et al.
Citation: Health Promotion Practice, 1524839920931849
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
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Association of Farm-Related Occupations with Psychological Distress & Mortality
Highlights the factors contributing to psychological distress and mortality among farm-related occupations. Discusses the health risks associated with agricultural labor and their psychological and physical outcomes. Slide presentation from the 2020 National Rural Health Association Annual conference.
Author(s): Ahmed A. Arif, James N. Laditka, Sarah B. Laditka, Oluwaseun Adeyemi
Date: 06/2020
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Growing Stress on the Farm: The Expanding Economic and Mental Health Disparities in Rural Missouri
Identifies disparities in mental health outcomes and economic factors for farmers and other rural Missourians. Presents opportunities to promote access to mental health services, improve outcomes, and reduce stigma. Includes statistics on suicides in Missouri with breakdowns by metropolitan and rural areas, age, and gender, and hospital emergency visits by rural Missourians for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorder, and suicidality.
Author(s): M. Reidhead, J. Medows, K. Dothage, et al.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Hospital Association, University of Missouri Extension
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Farmer Stress in Georgia: Results of a Survey
Results of a survey measuring type and intensity of stressors affecting Georgia farmers, based on information gathered from 118 attendees at the 2019 Georgia Farm Bureau Convention. Features statistics with breakdowns by demographics, specific types of farming employment, and top stressors.
Author(s): Anna Scheyett
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Georgia School of Social Work
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Last Updated: 3/28/2024