Farmer suicides: A qualitative study from Australia

Perceval, M; Kõlves, K; Reddy, P; de Leo, D

Farmer suicides: A qualitative study from Australia

Perceval, M Kõlves, K Reddy, P

de Leo, D

Permalink

Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Occupational Medicine, 2017, 67 (5), pp. 383 - 388
Issue Date:: 2017-01-01

Closed Access

	Filename	Description	Size
	kqx055.pdf	Published Version	261.67 kB	Adobe PDF	View/Open

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Closed Access

This item is closed access and not available.

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Perceval, M	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Kõlves, K	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Reddy, P https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0709-9352	en_US
dc.contributor.author	de Leo, D	en_US
dc.date.issued	2017-01-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Occupational Medicine, 2017, 67 (5), pp. 383 - 388	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0962-7480	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125891
dc.description.abstract	© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. Background Farmers in Australia, in general, have poorer health outcomes, including higher rates of suicide. Aims To investigate risk and protective factors and attitudes towards suicide and help-seeking among farmers living and working in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. Methods A qualitative study in which three farming sites were selected in each state to represent an area with a suicide rate equal to, below and above the state average. Focus groups were conducted with men and women separately. Results Focus groups involved 30 men and 33 women. Inductive thematic analysis showed three broad themes characterized responses: environment and society; community and relationships; and individual factors. There was considerable overlap and dynamic interaction between themes. A combination of individual factors, as well as social and environmental stressors, was described as most likely to increase risk of suicide death and reduce help-seeking. The vast majority of known farmer suicides described involved men and many of the issues discussed pertained specifically to male farmers. Participants found suicide as an act complex, intertwined with many factors, and hard to fathom. A common belief was that an individual must feel a complete lack of hope and perceive their situation vastly differently from others to contemplate suicide. Conclusions Future suicide prevention efforts for farmers should take a biopsycho-ecological approach. Physical, psychological and cultural isolation could be addressed with education and training programmes and public campaigns. These could also improve people's ability to recognize possible suicidality.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Occupational Medicine	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1093/occmed/kqx055	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Environmental & Occupational Health	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Humans	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Focus Groups	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Risk Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Suicide	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Qualitative Research	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	New South Wales	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Queensland	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Female	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Male	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Protective Factors	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Farmers	en_US
dc.subject.mesh	Help-Seeking Behavior	en_US
dc.title	Farmer suicides: A qualitative study from Australia	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	5	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	67	en_US
utslib.for	1117 Public Health and Health Services	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Business/Management Discipline
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	5	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	67	en_US

Abstract:

© The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Society of Occupational Medicine. All rights reserved. Background Farmers in Australia, in general, have poorer health outcomes, including higher rates of suicide. Aims To investigate risk and protective factors and attitudes towards suicide and help-seeking among farmers living and working in New South Wales and Queensland in Australia. Methods A qualitative study in which three farming sites were selected in each state to represent an area with a suicide rate equal to, below and above the state average. Focus groups were conducted with men and women separately. Results Focus groups involved 30 men and 33 women. Inductive thematic analysis showed three broad themes characterized responses: environment and society; community and relationships; and individual factors. There was considerable overlap and dynamic interaction between themes. A combination of individual factors, as well as social and environmental stressors, was described as most likely to increase risk of suicide death and reduce help-seeking. The vast majority of known farmer suicides described involved men and many of the issues discussed pertained specifically to male farmers. Participants found suicide as an act complex, intertwined with many factors, and hard to fathom. A common belief was that an individual must feel a complete lack of hope and perceive their situation vastly differently from others to contemplate suicide. Conclusions Future suicide prevention efforts for farmers should take a biopsycho-ecological approach. Physical, psychological and cultural isolation could be addressed with education and training programmes and public campaigns. These could also improve people's ability to recognize possible suicidality.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/125891