A new University of Alberta study exploring the risk factors that make farmers vulnerable to suicide could help them build better resilience.
The comprehensive review is the first to combine and analyze interview data gathered from several studies on farmers and suicide, and gives insight into the unique stressors they face, says lead researcher Rebecca Purc-Stephenson, a psychology professor at the U of A's Augustana Campus.
"We wanted to get a better understanding of the life circumstances the farmer experienced that led them to die by suicide," says Purc-Stephenson, also the current lead researcher with AgKnow, a non-profit mental health initiative for farmers and others in agriculture.
"Farming is a lifestyle, not just a job, which makes farm culture unique. It's important to understand the particularities around this group."
