Farming and Mental Health Problems and Mental Illness

C. E. Fraser

Centre for Rural Mental Health, Bendigo Health Care Group, Bendigo, PO Box 126, Bendigo, Victoria 3552,
Australia.

K. B. Smith

Monash University, School of Rural Health, Bendigo, PO Box 666, North Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia.

F. Judd

Monash University, Department of Psychological Medicine, Bendigo, PO Box 126, Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia.

J. S. Humphreys

Monash University, School of Rural Health, Bendigo, PO Box 666, North Bendigo, Victoria 3552, Australia.

L. J. Fragar

A. Henderson

Australian Centre for Agricultural Health and Safety, University of Sydney, Moree, PO Box 256, Moree, NSW 2400,
Australia.

Abstract

Background: Farmers experience one of the highest rates of suicide of any industry and there is growing evidence
that those involved in farming are at higher risk of developing mental health problems. This article provides an
overview of the literature examining mental health issues experienced by farming populations in the United
Kingdom, Europe, Australia, Canada and the United States and identifies areas for further research.

Method: A literature review (Medline, Science Direct, Ingenta, Proquest and Psych INFO) was carried out using the
words ‘Farmers', ‘agriculture’, ‘depression’, ‘mental health’, ‘mental illness’, ‘stress’, and ‘suicide’, as well as a
review of relevant papers and publications known to the authors. (Papers not written in English and those
published prior to 1985 were excluded.)

Results: Fifty-two papers were identified with the majority focusing on stress and coping styles in farmers (24). A
number of studies also focused on neuropsychological functioning and agricultural chemical use (7), depression (7),
suicide (9), general mental health (4) and injury and mental health (1). This body of research studied male farmers,
female farmers, farm workers, farming families, and young people living on farms. Research to date indicates that
farmers, farm workers and their respective families face an array of stressors related to the physical environment,
structure of farming families and the economic difficulties and uncertainties associated with farming which may be
detrimental to their mental health.

Conclusion: Whilst suicide rates in some groups of farmers are higher than the general population, conclusive data
do not exist to indicate whether farmers and farming families experience higher rates of mental health problems
compared with the non-farming community. It is clear, however, that farming is associated with a unique set of
characteristics that is potentially hazardous to mental health and requires further research.