The DOI matches its Crossref record; 137 of the 137 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.
Farmer Mental Health Interventions: A Systematic Review
Open accessAbstract
The prevalence of mental health disorders and suicide amongst agricultural producers is a global problem. Community leaders, researchers, policymakers, and clinicians have mobilized to develop programs to address this issue. This study reviewed a wide range of mental health interventions targeting farmer mental health spanning over 50 years and examined their reported effectiveness and constraints. A total of ninety-two articles on farmer mental health were included in a final systematic review. Most articles were written concerning mental health literacy and peer and paraprofessional support interventions in the United States and Australia. Among the 56 studies reporting empirical evaluative data, 21 were mixed-method, 20 quantitative, 11 qualitative, and 5 literature synthesis. Non-experimental, self-reported, and qualitative data suggest efficacy of mental health literacy programs, peer and paraprofessional support, and community-based and agroecological interventions. However, most interventions were not subject to rigorous evaluation and only one intervention was evaluated using a control condition. The heterogeneity of existing studies and paucity of rigorous evaluation proscribes firm conclusions related to program-type efficacy. This review demonstrates that there is still a need for a stronger and broader evidence base in the field of farmer mental health interventions, which should focus on both holistic, multi-component programs and targeted approaches.
Overview
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Verification
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The cited source says what the claim attributes to it.
In the citing paper
“Recent systematic reviews indicate that farmers are at particular risk of mental health disorders [1, 2].”
From Improving the mental health of farmers: what types of remote support are acceptable, feasible, and improve outcomes? A feasibility RCT (2024) · cites this paper as [2]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Citations
Cites
The PRISMA 2020 statement: An updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., et al. (2021) · BMJ · doi:10.1136/bmj.n71 · Cited by 108,283
Human resources for mental health care: current situation and strategies for action
Kakuma, R., Minas, H., van Ginneken, N., Dal Poz, M. R., Desiraju, K., Morris, J. E., Saxena, S., & Scheffler, R. M. (2011) · The Lancet · doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(11)61093-3 · Cited by 979
Which farms feed the world and has farmland become more concentrated?
Lowder, S. K., Sánchez, M. V., & Bertini, R. (2021) · World Development · doi:10.1016/j.worlddev.2021.105455 · Cited by 542
Key Risk Factors Affecting Farmers’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review
Daghagh Yazd, S., Wheeler, S. A., & Zuo, A. (2019) · International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health · doi:10.3390/ijerph16234849 · Cited by 393
Farming and Mental Health Problems and Mental Illness
Fraser, C. E., Smith, K. B., Judd, F. K., Humphreys, J. S., Fragar, L., & Henderson, A. J. (2005) · International Journal of Social Psychiatry · doi:10.1177/0020764005060844 · Cited by 379
Rural male suicide in Australia
Alston, M. (2010) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2010.04.036 · Cited by 302
Trickett, E. J. (2009) · American Journal of Community Psychology · doi:10.1007/s10464-009-9227-y · Cited by 297
Grégoire, A. (2002) · Occupational Medicine · doi:10.1093/occmed/52.8.471 · Cited by 259
Climate Change and Farmers’ Mental Health: Risks and Responses
Berry, H. L., Hogan, A., Owen, J., Rickwood, D., & Fragar, L. (2011) · Asia Pacific Journal of Public Health · doi:10.1177/1010539510392556 · Cited by 257
Kolstrup, C. L., Kallioniemi, M., Lundqvist, P., Kymäläinen, H., Stallones, L. F., & Brumby, S. A. (2013) · Journal of Agromedicine · doi:10.1080/1059924x.2013.796903 · Cited by 226
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 12
- Conger, R.D., Elder, G.H., Lorenz, F.O., Simons, R.L., and Whitbeck, L.B. (1994). Families in Troubled Times: Adapting to Change in Rural America, De Gruyter.
- Heffernan, 1986, Impact of the farm crisis on rural families and communities, Rural Sociol., 6, 160
- Taylor, J.E., and Charlton, D. (2018). The Farm Labor Problem: A Global Perspective. Academic Press.
- Blundall, 1986, The initial response from a community mental health center, Hum. Serv. Rural Environ., 10, 30
- Cecil, 1988, Stress: Country Style: Illinois response to farm stress, J. Rural Community Psychol., 9, 51
- Crawford, 1986, Response to the rural crisis: Missouri Cooperative Extension Service, Hum. Serv. Rural Environ., 10, 33
- Mermelstein, 1986, Farm Counseling Services, Inc, Hum. Serv. Rural Environ., 10, 32
- Mermelstein, 1986, MOFARMS, Hum. Serv. Rural Environ., 10, 33
- Stevens, 1986, Rural Interventions in Southwest Minnesota: A Private Nonprofit Human Service Agency, Hum. Serv. Rural Environ., 10, 31
- Breeze, 1987, Getting help: The first step towards farm health, Ext. Rev., 58, 32
- Herrick, 1986, Farmers revolt! Contemporary farmers’ protests in historical perspective: Implications for social work practice, Hum. Serv. Rural Environ., 10, 6
- Sridhar, 2006, Why do farmers commit suicide? The case of Andhra Pradesh, Econ. Political Wkly., 41, 1559
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Items 101–113 of 113
Fletcher, C. M. E., Woolford, D. D., Gladigau, J., & Gunn, K. M. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26688020
Çiftçilerin Tıbbı ve Aromatik Bitki Yetiştirme İstekleri: Çanakkale İli Örneği
Everest, B., Özmencik, B., Aktaş, D. E., & Fındık, B. (2026) · Journal of the Institute of Science and Technology · doi:10.21597/jist.1750003
Mapping the silent crisis: a bibliometric analysis of farmer distress using dimensions AI
Roy, S., Maji, S., Ghosh, S., Gorai, S. K., Anand, S., Quader, S. W., Nanda, M., Kumari, J., Jairu, D., Shukla, G., et al. (2026) · Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems · doi:10.3389/fsufs.2026.1621021
Psychosocial Construction of Farming Identity Among Small-Scale Filipino Farmers
Ngo, A. T. S., Buizon, C. E., Ostia, A. L. D., Olaso, S. C., Ligue, P. J. L., Ochoa, J. C., & Lopez, B. D. (2026) · Advanced Social Science in Research Journal · doi:10.11594/assrj.01.02.19
Heat-related illness symptoms and mental health in Florida farmworkers
Castellano, A. D., Puentes, R., Ruiz, E., Rodriguez, I. Y., Hertzberg, V., McCauley, L. A., & Chicas, R. C. (2026) · Frontiers in Public Health · doi:10.3389/fpubh.2026.1797619
Suicide and Place: how do area characteristics affect suicidality? A Meta-ethnography
Gregory, B., Ambler, F., Brennan, C. A., & Brennan, C. (2026) · Social Science & Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.socscimed.2026.119646 · Cited by 1
Hetzel, C., Sänger, N., Bühne, D., Vees, J., Eichinger-Schönberger, R., & Holzer, M. (2026) · Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz · doi:10.1007/s00103-026-04297-5
Palczynski, L., Smith, K., Howse, J., Shaffer-Morrison, D., & Rose, D. C. (2026) · The Journal of Agricultural Education and Extension · doi:10.1080/1389224x.2026.2726161
Dudek, M., Komorowski, Ł., Wilczyńska, E., & Pagni, L. (2026) · Moravian Geographical Reports · doi:10.2478/mgr-2026-0014
Norrod, P. E., MacDonald, M. K., Pipgrass, K. D., & Ickes, M. J. (2026) · Health Promotion Practice · doi:10.1177/15248399261490869
Social sustainability reimagined: insights from beginning farmers
Doherty, F., & Kaiser, M. L. (2026) · Local Environment · doi:10.1080/13549839.2026.2749837
Psychological distress among smallholder farmers in rural Tanzania: Drivers and coping mechanisms
Shayo, G., & Faße, A. (2026) · SSM - Mental Health · doi:10.1016/j.ssmmh.2026.100719
Yedage, Y. P., Joshi, M. N., Sathe, H., & Maliye, C. H. (2026) · Indian Journal of Community Medicine · doi:10.4103/ijcm.ijcm_221_26
Metadata
- Authors
- Younker, T., & Radunovich, H. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Younker, Terasa
- Venue
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
- Publisher
- MDPI AG
- Published
- 2021-12-26
- Volume
- 19
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 244
- ISSN
- 1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC8751007
- OpenAlex
- W4200496793
- Cited by
- 115
- References
- 134
- Citations by year
- 2026: 18 · 2025: 36 · 2024: 39 · 2023: 15 · 2022: 7
- FWCI
- 1.46
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- Funders
- National Institute of Food and Agriculture (2019-70028-30434)
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Agriculture and Farm Safety
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Mental Health Treatment and Access
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Clinical Psychology › Suicide and Self-Harm Studies
- Keywords
- farmer mental health, farmers, mental health interventions, mental health literacy, peer support, paraprofessional support, community-based intervention, agroecology, suicide prevention, intervention effectiveness, evidence base
- MeSH terms
- Farmers, Agriculture, Mental Disorders, Humans, Mental Health, Suicide
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review