Mental health and well-being within rural communities: The Australian Rural Mental Health Study

2010 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 16-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian J. Kelly ◽  
Helen J. Stain ◽  
Clare Coleman ◽  
David Perkins ◽  
Lyn Fragar ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Rural Mental Health ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Mental Health Study ◽  
Health And Well Being

scholarly journals Compositional, Contextual, and Collective Community Factors in Mental Health and Well-Being in Australian Rural Communities

2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 677-687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Collins ◽  
Bernadette M. Ward ◽  
Pamela Snow ◽  
Sandra Kippen ◽  
Fiona Judd
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Mental Health Professionals ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Physical And Mental Health ◽  
Geographic Variations ◽  
Community Factors ◽  
Health And Well Being

There are disproportionately higher and inconsistently distributed rates of recorded suicides in rural areas. Patterns of rural suicide are well documented, but they remain poorly understood. Geographic variations in physical and mental health can be understood through the combination of compositional, contextual, and collective factors pertaining to particular places. The aim of this study was to explore the role of “place” contributing to suicide rates in rural communities. Seventeen mental health professionals participated in semi-structured in-depth interviews. Principles of grounded theory were used to guide the analysis. Compositional themes were demographics and perceived mental health issues; contextual themes were physical environment, employment, housing, and mental health services; and collective themes were town identity, community values, social cohesion, perceptions of safety, and attitudes to mental illness. It is proposed that connectedness may be the underlying mechanism by which compositional, contextual, and collective factors influence mental health and well-being in rural communities.

scholarly journals The Impact of Social Prescribing on Mental Health: A Protocol for Two Randomised Wait-List Controlled Feasibility Studies, Social Prescribing in Mental Health Study (SPRING) and Mental Health Through Social Prescribing Project (PROSPECT)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Megan Elliott ◽  
Mark Llewellyn ◽  
Carolyn Wallace ◽  
Sarah Wallace ◽  
E Mark Williams
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Service Use ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Randomised Control Trial ◽  
Wait List ◽  
Social Prescribing ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract BackgroundSocial prescribing aims to connect citizens with sources of support in their communities to benefit their health and well-being. Despite its ongoing implementation within the United Kingdom, the evidence base for social prescribing has been criticised, citing a lack of rigour, high risk of bias and inconclusive findings to date.MethodsThis study protocol aims to examine the feasibility of using large, randomised control studies to assess the mental health and well-being impacts of social prescribing. Two wait-list control studies, each consisting of two parallel arm groups, SPRING and PROPSECT were designed. Participants were referred via their consulting healthcare professionals. The participants were randomised to receive the intervention immediately or after a delay of four weeks. The intervention in the SPRING study was a personal “what-matters” interview by a Link Worker consultation leading to a prescribed social service. Three month and six month follow up of service use was proposed. In PROPSECT, the intervention was a holistic social prescribing service. In both trials the primary outcomes were quality of life, service uptake, and participant experience.DiscussionSocial prescribing is becoming popular in community health and care services. It is believed to be an effective resource, and this is first randomised control trial to attempt to demonstrate the effectiveness of social prescribing for people with Mental Health and/or emotional well-being issues. A waiting-list control study is feasible in this context but would be suitable for larger randomised controlled trials.Trial Registration: SPRING, Clinical Trials, NCT04062903. Registered 17th September 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04062903?term=NCT04062903&draw=2&rank=1. PROSPECT, Clinical Trials, NCT04099095. Registered 23rd September 2019, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04099095?term=NCT04099095&draw=2&rank=1

Drought‐related stress among farmers: findings from the Australian Rural Mental Health Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 209 (4) ◽  
pp. 159-165 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emma K Austin ◽  
Tonelle Handley ◽  
Anthony S Kiem ◽  
Jane L Rich ◽  
Terry J Lewin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Mental Health ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Related Stress ◽  
Mental Health Study

scholarly journals New Insights Into the Relationship Between Drought and Mental Health Emerging From the Australian Rural Mental Health Study

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tuyen T. Luong ◽  
Tonelle Handley ◽  
Emma K. Austin ◽  
Anthony S. Kiem ◽  
Jane L. Rich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mental Health ◽  
Psychological Distress ◽  
Population Based ◽  
Rural Mental Health ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Long Term Effects ◽  
Good Mental Health ◽  
Effects Of Drought ◽  
Mental Health Study

While it is recognized that drought affects mental health, few population-based longitudinal studies quantify this relationship. In this study, we investigate the effects of drought on mental health in a rural population, and how these effects change with continued exposure to drought conditions. Using a panel dataset consisting of 6,519 observations from the Australian Rural Mental Health Study, we found a non-linear (inverted U-shape) relationship between drought exposure and mental health. Specifically, people experienced an increase of psychological distress for the first 2.5–3 years of drought, after which time this distress dissipates. These effects were maintained after controlling for demographic, social, and environmental factors. We also found that while psychological distress decreases in the later stages of drought, this does not necessarily mean people have good mental health because, for example, factors such as life satisfaction decreased as drought persisted. This is important as it highlights the need for sustained support to mitigate the long-term effects of drought on mental health that persist after the drought has apparently finished.

scholarly journals Farmers’ health and wellbeing in the context of changing farming practice: a qualitative study

2019 ◽  
Vol 29 (Supplement_4) ◽  
Author(s):  
M Bondy ◽  
D Cole
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Mental Health ◽  
Rural Communities ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mental Health Issue ◽  
Public Health Programs ◽  
Health And Wellbeing ◽  
Community Supports ◽  
Health And Well Being

Abstract Background Farming continues to change globally, with steady industrialization, globalization and climate change and disproportionately high reports of stress and suicide. Little research has been done to understand how changes to farming impact mental health. We aimed to understand how Canadian farmers understand their stressors and experience their health. Methods We recruited 16 small-medium scale, diversified farmers through farm organizations in Grey-Bruce counties in Canada. We interviewed them about their perception of changes in farming, associated stressors, mental health and well-being, and community supports. Using a constructivist paradigm, we coded each interview, discussed results, and formulated emergent themes using thematic analysis. Results Farmers’ relationship to change was complex with both benefits and challenges of changing farm practices, technology and weather for health - a “double-edged sword”. Farmers described the resilience associated with farming which connects them to the land “essentially being at one with place.” Farmers’ work required them to be active, an asset for keeping them healthy, but also a challenge if mobility became restricted. Farmers’ noted overwhelming stress but stated “...the last thing most farmers want to do is admit that they are stressed or have a mental health issue.” Yet “...if you don’t have strong mental health then you can’t really be resilient and cope with the stresses of climate change and all the things that will happen on a farm.” They voiced a perceived lack of support from governments - dealing with bureaucracy, community - experience of isolation or stigma, and health services - an over-stretched, often distant system. Conclusions Farmers’ understandings from Canada will be compared to literature from Europe to demonstrate relevance inform public health programs promoting mental health in rural communities, advocacy for government supports to diversified farmers and evaluation of intervention programs. Key messages Farmers experience change as a double edged sword with benefits and challenges for health and mental health. Public health needs to intervene to meet farmers where they are and to advocate with farmers for further support.

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