A recent study has shown that putting healthcare professionals in a place where farmers meet and work with others regularly, i.e. livestock marts, can help end the stigma in farming communities surrounding mental health.
The study, titled ‘The role of the livestock auction mart in promoting help-seeking behavior change among farmers in the UK‘, was carried out by researchers at the University of Exeter.
The research team interviewed 90 people at 17 livestock marts in England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
This included 42 farmers; 27 auction operators; 15 people for support initiatives (including nurses); and six other mart stakeholders. The age of farmers ranged from 25 to 83 and out of the group interviewed, six were women.
The majority of farmers interviewed reacted positively to the possibility of health hubs at auction marts, the study said.
Mental health in farming
Those who took part in the research said “masculine traits like pride, fear of being judged and stoicism linked to their farming identity prevent them from seeking support”.
Several farmers across the range of age groups, as well as auction operators, admitted to having experienced challenges with their mental health. Many stated a preference to talk to a rural chaplain, friends or family members before a professional.
The university reported that farmers commented on the lack of availability of appointments, particularly in the case of mental health services.
Dr. Caroline Nye, of the University of Exeter, said: “Livestock auction marts continue to be entrenched in tradition, but can also be spaces where outdated and potentially harmful behaviour can be challenged.
“We need to stop those in the agricultural community feeling reluctant to seek help and remove any shame or stigma they associate with seeing a doctor or nurse.
“Putting services in livestock marts can help create positive attitudes towards health services,” Dr. Nye added.
“They can be used to show masculine bahviour not to see a doctor is not healthy through peer-to-peer persuasion in the places where farmers feel at home and part of their community.”
Barriers to seeking help
The study found that time constraints, the need to change out of work clothes, the need to book and travel to an appointment, take time off work and other minor barriers, like the mistrust of practitioners, all discouraged farmers from seeking healthcare.
The nurses, auction operators and farmer support organisation representatives that were interviewed named the following as other issues acting as deterrents for farmers from seeking help:
- Inconvenience;
- Time contraints;
- Work committments;
- Flexibility issues;
- Appointment availability;
- Lack of confidence in services.
A professor from the University of Exeter, Matt Lobley, said research on mental health in the farming community needs to focus on tailoring support to suit the lifestyles and problems of farmers.
“This is one of few pieces of work that considered how mental health support can be delivered to members of the farming community in a manner that is meaningful and accessible to them and which move away from urban-centred models of health care support,” he said.
