PHOTO: Angus Patrick on his family’s property outside Gulargambone
“Farmers are very adept problem-solvers and while this is a great quality to have in a practical sense, they can tend to ‘tough it out’ when it comes to their mental health, rather than reaching out for support from others,” said University of South Australia (UNiSA) researcher Dr Donna Hugh-Barton.
The suicide rate is twice as high among farmers than it is in other professions, according to the UniSA, yet farmers are half as likely to visit a medical professional about their health.
This intractable problem is the subject of a new study launched by UNiSA on 4 April asking farmers themselves what they need in terms of mental health support…