Chase Reece, BSHP '24

Today, I continued coding data from our interviews. Some of the specific questions in the interviews asked the farmers to identify their most prevalent stressors, if they felt comfortable seeking care, and what influence the views of those within the farming community had on their likelihood to utilize mental health services. Furthermore, they were asked what the most effective methods were to share mental health resources. Overall, stigma was commonly reported as a barrier for seeking care, although there seems to be a significant difference between the willingness of male and female farmers to seek help. There were varying opinions about the best method to share mental health resources, although many reported that having community and like-minded people to share their experiences with is often effective and also a good coping strategy to manage stress. This is similar to previous research among farmers that highlights the importance of shared spaces for discussion, which is something that needs to be focused on and expanded more with partners in the farming community.