scholarly journals Farmer Mental Health Interventions: A Systematic Review

Author(s):  
Terasa Younker ◽  
Heidi Liss Radunovich

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.

Author(s):  
Liam Spencer ◽  
Ruth McGovern ◽  
Eileen Kaner

Abstract Background Preventative interventions may be effective in reducing and preventing symptoms of mental ill health in children and young people. However, there is a paucity of research in this area that explores the views of young people. This paper reports on a qualitative study to inform the future development of attractive and appropriate early and preventative school-based mental health interventions. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 12 young people aged 14–17 in North East England. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, anonymised and analysed following a thematic approach. Results Four key themes were identified, relevant to those providing, designing and commissioning early and preventative mental health interventions in schools: ‘mental health literacy’, ‘risk factors for wellbeing decline’, ‘experience of school-based support’ and ‘recommendations for future support’. Conclusions Young people have varying levels of mental health literacy, but are able to identify academic stress, bullying and the transition from primary to secondary school as leading causes of worry. Young people want more regular and in-depth mental health education, tailored levels of support in school and improved training for teachers.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harriet Hiscock ◽  
Marquelle Goods ◽  
Marquelle Goods

UNSTRUCTURED Introduction: Many children with a mental health problem do not receive professional help. Despite frequent use of digital health interventions (DHI) such as websites or online service navigation platforms for child mental health, their effects on parent’s mental health knowledge, help-seeking or uptake of professional services for their child are unclear. Methods: Systematic review and narrative synthesis to describe whether DHIs improve the above parental outcomes and whether they are cost-effective. CINAHL, EMBASE, Medline OVID, PsycInfo and PubMed were searched from 2000-2020. Studies were included if they evaluated quantitative changes in mental health literacy, help-seeking or uptake of services by parents of children with a mental health problem. Data extraction: Theoretical framework, sample size, participant demographics, recruitment, intervention, DHI usage, results and health economic measures. Results: From 11,379 search results, five studies met inclusion criteria. One randomized controlled trial found reduced uptake of services after using a DHI coupled with a telephone coach for a child’s behavioral problem. Two of three studies found statistically significant improvement in mental health literacy for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder but had no control group. One study found non-significant improvement in mental health literacy and help-seeking attitudes for anxiety and depression compared to an active control. No studies reported on cost-effectiveness. All studies were rated at least high or serious risk of bias. Discussion: Despite their use, there is no high-quality evidence that DHIs can improve parents’ mental health literacy, help-seeking or uptake of services. Limitations include a single reviewer screening articles and overall low-quality studies. More research is needed to evaluate DHIs using rigorous study designs, consistent measures and cost analyses.


2021 ◽  
pp. 108705472110036
Author(s):  
Matthew Bisset ◽  
Leanne Winter ◽  
Christel M. Middeldorp ◽  
David Coghill ◽  
Nardia Zendarski ◽  
...  

Objective: This review aimed to understand the broader community’s attitudes toward ADHD, which could facilitate public health interventions to improve outcomes for individuals with ADHD. Methods: A standardized protocol identified peer-reviewed studies focusing on attitudes of broader community samples, published from January 2014 to February 2020 (inclusive). Results: A total of 1,318 articles were screened and 10 studies were included, examining attitudes of broader community samples from Australia, Sweden, Germany, Finland, Korea, Indonesia, and the United States. Findings revealed that broader community samples displayed varying degrees of ADHD-related knowledge, negative attitudes (that ADHD is over-diagnosed; that pharmacological treatment is not acceptable; that those with ADHD are more likely to exhibit poor behavior), and a desire for maintaining social distance from individuals with ADHD. Conclusion: Findings suggest that community attitudes are generally negative toward those with ADHD. Targeted mental health literacy could provide an important avenue for improving the broader community’s attitudes toward those with ADHD.


2007 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 294-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
David McDaid

AbstractTo provide an overview of the economic impact of poor mental health in the workplace and assess the extent to which economic evaluation has been used to further the case for investment in workplace based mental health programmes. Rapid scoping review of published and grey literature. The socio-economic costs of poor mental health in the workplace are substantial but conservative, as few studies have included productivity losses from work cutback, as well as absenteeism. While few economic evaluations of workplace based mental health interventions were identified, the available evidence base suggests that they have the potential to be highly cost effective. Much of this evidence may be from the US and be less applicable elsewhere; it may also have been solely published in company documents making assessment of methodological quality difficult. The potential economic case for workplace based mental health interventions appears good. More collaboration between policy makers and the private sector would help facilitate rigorous and transparent economic evaluations. A number of evaluations are planned. The challenge is to build on these initiatives, in order to address what remains a major gap in our knowledge on the economics of mental health.


2016 ◽  
Vol 70 ◽  
pp. 65-77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin P. Hambrick ◽  
Shani Oppenheim-Weller ◽  
Amanda M. N'zi ◽  
Heather N. Taussig

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