Farmers' access to mental health services and community supports: A mixed methods analysis of service preferences, barriers and attitudes

Farming is a stressful occupation with variable risks, including weather variability, volatile export markets and increasing isolation. The underutilisation of services and supports for mental health in rural populations is of concern given the high rates of suicide among farmers. This study aimed to examine the use of mental health services by famers in Western Australia, including service preferences, attitudes, awareness and accessibility. An exploratory mixed-methods design was adopted, comprising data from interviews (N = 28) and a survey (N = 124). Community-led initiatives were perceived as essential to mental health support in farming communities. The need for community supports was emphasised as an important solution to address in part, the barriers farmers experienced to professional services, including limited awareness and physical access to services; remote location, financial and time constraints; and concerns regarding confidentiality. These findings highlight the importance of working with farming communities to enable service access and to further improve engagement with mental health services.