Meeting farmers where they are–rural clinicians’ views on farmers’ mental health
Abstract
Objective : To explore rural clinicians' understanding of farmers' mental health and well-being, current health services, and potential responses. Methods : Qualitative design, with semi-structured, taped interviews of five family physicians and four mental health nurses-counselors practicing in rural Grey-Bruce counties, Ontario. Transcripts analyzed with N-Vivo through iterative coding of emergent themes and mapping of relationships among themes. Results : Participating rural clinicians all expressed admiration for farmers. They shared insights around three main themes: 1) farming as a unique subculture; 2) farming involved both benefits and challenges for health; and 3) farmers rarely seek care. Clinicians need to take advantage of contact opportunities to ask about mental health. Several suggested ways to meet farmers where they are, e.g., through better funding for house-farm calls and community events. Conclusion : Clinician responses to farmers' mental health challenges include recognizing farmers' distinct context. Complementary health promotion in conjunction with farm organizations is needed to reach farmers.
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Knowing and understanding the occupational background is an important skill for coaches to adapt the coaching approach better to participants' needs.
“To adapt the actual coaching approach better to the participants' need (Cole and Bondy, 2020; Stumpp and Sauer-Zavala, 2021) knowing and understanding the occupational background is an important skill for the involved coaches.”
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- Authors
- Cole, D. C., & Bondy, M. C.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- University of Ottawa (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Cole, Donald C
- Venue
- Journal of Agromedicine
- Publisher
- Informa UK Limited
- Published
- 2019-08-28
- Volume
- 25
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 126-134
- ISSN
- 1059-924X (ISSN-L)
- 1545-0813
- OpenAlex
- W2969625100
- Cited by
- 36
- References
- 40
- Citations by year
- 2026: 2 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 2 · 2021: 7 · 2020: 2
- FWCI
- 2.03
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Agromedicine (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Plant Science › Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Life Sciences › Agricultural and Biological Sciences › General Agricultural and Biological Sciences › Rural development and sustainability
- Keywords
- farmer mental health, general practitioners, psychiatric nurses, help-seeking, health promotion, farm organization, rural health care
- MeSH terms
- Farmers, Counselors, Female, Health Promotion, Humans, Male, Mental Health, Nurses, Ontario, Physicians, Family, Rural Population, Rural Health Services, Qualitative Research
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