US Climate and Health Alliance

Climate change and farmers’ mental health: risks and responses

Abstract

Climate change is exacerbating climate variability, evident in more frequent and severe weather-related disasters, such as droughts, fires, and floods. Most of what is known about the possible effects of climate change on rural mental health relates to prolonged drought. But though drought is known to be a disproportionate and general stressor, evidence is mixed and inconclusive. Over time, like drought other weather-related disasters may erode the social and economic bases on which farming communities depend. Rural vulnerability to mental health problems is greatly increased by socioeconomic disadvantage. Related factors may compound this, such as reduced access to health services as communities decline and a “stoical” culture that inhibits help-seeking. Australia has the world’s most variable climate and is a major global agricultural producer. Yet despite Australia’s (and, especially, rural communities’) dependence on farmers’ well-being and success, there is very little-and inconclusive-quantitative evidence about farmers’ mental health. The aim of this review is to consider, with a view to informing other countries, how climate change and related factors may affect farmers’ mental health in Australia. That information is a prerequisite to identifying, selecting, and evaluating adaptive strategies, to lessen the risks of adverse mental health outcomes. The authors identify the need for a systematic epidemiology of the mental health of farmers facing increasing climate change- related weather adversity.

Resource Type
Peer-reviewed article
Authors
Helen L. Berry Anthony Hogan Jennifer Owen Debra Rickwood Lyn Fragar
Resource URL
http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Helen_Berry4/publication/50934717_Climate_change_and_farmers%27_mental_health_risks_and_responses/links/02e7e51883b5133d32000000.pdf
Publication
Asia-Pacific Journal of Public Health / Asia-Pacific Academic Consortium for Public Health
Journal Abbr.
Asia Pac J Public Health
Volume
23
Issue
2 Suppl
Pages
119S-32
Date
Mar 2011
DOI
10.1177/1010539510392556
ISSN
1941-2479
Short Title
Climate change and farmers' mental health
Health and Human Impact
Mental health
Climate and Environmental Impacts
Drought Food/crops
Region
International
Other
Social determinants of health Vulnerable populations

Resources main page