Suicide in Rural Australia: Are Farming-Related Suicides Different?

Alison Kennedy, Jessie Adams, Jeremy Dwyer, Muhammad Aziz Rahman and Susan Brumby
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Alison Kennedy: National Centre for Farmer Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria 3300, Australia
Jessie Adams: Western District Health Service, Foster Street, Hamilton, Victoria 3300, Australia
Jeremy Dwyer: Coroners Court of Victoria, Department of Forensic Medicine, Monash University, Victoria 3006, Australia
Muhammad Aziz Rahman: National Centre for Farmer Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria 3300, Australia
Susan Brumby: National Centre for Farmer Health, School of Medicine, Deakin University, Victoria 3300, Australia

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 6, 1-13

Abstract: Rural Australians experience a range of health inequities—including higher rates of suicide—when compared to the general population. This retrospective cohort study compares demographic characteristics and suicide death circumstances of farming- and non-farming-related suicides in rural Victoria with the aim of: (a) exploring the contributing factors to farming-related suicide in Australia’s largest agricultural producing state; and (b) examining whether farming-related suicides differ from suicide in rural communities. Farming-related suicide deaths were more likely to: (a) be employed at the time of death (52.6% vs. 37.7%, OR = 1.84, 95% CIs 1.28–2.64); and, (b) have died through use of a firearm (30.1% vs. 8.7%, OR = 4.51, 95% CIs 2.97–6.92). However, farming-related suicides were less likely to (a) have a diagnosed mental illness (36.1% vs. 46.1%, OR=0.66, 95% CIs 0.46–0.96) and, (b) have received mental health support more than six weeks prior to death (39.8% vs. 50.0%, OR = 0.66, 95% CIs 0.46–0.95). A range of suicide prevention strategies need adopting across all segments of the rural population irrespective of farming status. However, data from farming-related suicides highlight the need for targeted firearm-related suicide prevention measures and appropriate, tailored and accessible support services to support health, well-being and safety for members of farming communities.

Keywords: suicide; mental health; risk factors; farmers; rural population; Australia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:6:p:2010-:d:333935

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