O14
“SKILLS FOR RESILIENCE”- THE DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A FARMER-CENTRIC INTERVENTION TO INCREASE MENTAL HEALTH LITERARCY AND HELP-SEEKING INTENTIONS AMONG IRISH FARMERS
S. O’Connor1, S. Malone1, J. Firnhaber1, S. O’Keeffe1, J. McNamara2, A. D. O’Hagan
1Dublin City University, Ireland
2Teagasc, Dublin, Ireland
Background
Farmers often face low mental health literacy and help-seeking, as they often perceive health services as unsuitable for their cohort.
Aims
Using the Theory of Planned Behaviour, self-efficacy theory and farmers’ preferences for intervention, we designed ‘Skills for Resilience’ as a brief, once-off, farmer-centric educational intervention to increase Irish farmers’ mental health literacy and help-seeking intentions.
Methods
We used parallel mixed methods with a quasi-experimental between (group: intervention and control) and within-group design (time: baseline [T1], immediately post-intervention [T2], and ≥ 1 month post-intervention [T3]). We recruited 72 farmers (intervention n=37; control n=35) from farmer discussion groups. A facilitator with mental health qualifications and a farming background delivered a discussion on mental health literacy. Five intervention participants also participated in a qualitative interview after T3.
Results
Participants’ mental health literacy increased significantly at T2 and T3 compared to both T1 and the control at all time points. Both help-seeking intentions and self-efficacy in seeking mental healthcare also increased significantly at T2 compared to T1. The intervention addressed stigma against mental health (Theme 1) and provided important resources for participants’ present and future coping (Theme 2), identified using reflexive thematic analysis. 100% of participants enjoyed the discussion and would recommend it to other farmers.
Conclusions
This brief, once-off intervention provides a successful example of using a farmer-centric approach and behaviour change theory to improve mental health literacy in Irish farmers. Farmers not only improved their help-seeking intentions and knowledge of mental health supports, but enjoyed and felt comfortable doing so.
References:
– Daghagh Yazd, S., Wheeler, S. A., & Zuo, A. (2019). Key risk factors affecting farmers’ mental health: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16(23), 4849. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16234849
– Darnhofer, I. (2014). Resilience and why it matters for farm management. European Review of Agricultural Economics, 41(3), 461-484. https://doi.org/10.1093/erae/jbu012
– Gunn, K. M., Barrett, A., Hughes-Barton, D., Turnbull, D., Short, C. E., Brumby, S., … & Dollman, J. (2021). What farmers want from mental health and wellbeing-focused websites and online interventions. Journal of Rural Studies, 86, 298-308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jrurstud.2021.06.016
– Hagen, B. N., Sawatzky, A., Harper, S. L., O’Sullivan, T. L., & Jones-Bitton, A. (2022). “Farmers aren’t into the emotions and things, right?”: A qualitative exploration of motivations and barriers for mental health help-seeking among Canadian farmers. Journal of Agromedicine, 27(2), 113-123. https://doi-org.dcu.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/1059924X.2021.1893884
– Hammersley, C., Richardson, N., Meredith, D., Carroll, P., & McNamara, J. G. (2023). Supporting farmer wellbeing: exploring a potential role for advisors. The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension, 29(4), 511-538. https://doi-org.dcu.idm.oclc.org/10.1080/1389224X.2022.2082498
