Abstract
Farmers have been found to be at increased risk of suicide in Australia. The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behaviour suggests that the proximal factors leading to the suicidal desire or ideation include an individual’s experiences of both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Suicidal desire with acquired capability to engage in lethal self-injury is predictive of suicidal behaviour. This study investigates the pathways to suicide of 18 Australian male farmers in order to understand the suicidal process and antecedents to suicide in Australian male farmers. The psychological autopsy (PA) method was used to generate life charts. Two pathways with distinct suicidal processes were identified: acute situational (romantic relationship problems and financial concerns/pending retirement) and protracted (long-term psychiatric disorder). Long working hours, interpersonal conflicts, physical illnesses and pain, alcohol abuse, access to firearms, and exposure to drought were additional common factors identified. An understanding of the interrelatedness of diverse distal and proximal risk factors on suicidal pathways in the wider environmental context for male farmers is required when developing and implementing rural suicide prevention activities.
Highlights
Male farmer suicide is an important social and public health issue in Australia [1]
The current study aims to draw upon the IPT and utilises psychological autopsy (PA)
Informants for QLD farmer suicides were identified and recruited directly from the Queensland Suicide Register (QSR), a suicide mortality database managed by the Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention (AISRAP)
Summary
Male farmer suicide is an important social and public health issue in Australia [1]. Elevated suicide rates among farmers have been reported in numerous international studies, including Australia [1,2].In Queensland, Australia, agricultural workers have been found to have the highest suicide rates compared to other occupational groups [1].Farming has been a major contributor to Australia’s economy and cultural identity since European settlement [3]. Elevated suicide rates among farmers have been reported in numerous international studies, including Australia [1,2]. In Queensland, Australia, agricultural workers have been found to have the highest suicide rates compared to other occupational groups [1]. The number of people residing in rural areas and/or working in agriculture has declined rapidly [3]. Over a 30 year period to 2011, the number of farmers declined by 106,200 (40%), an average of 294 fewer farmers every month over that period [3]. Farmers have faced climatic extremes and a decline in Australia’s reliance on agriculture [3,4]. Small farmers have been selling up to large scale corporate farming operations and fewer young people are taking over
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