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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Farmers and farmworkers

Association of Farm-Related Occupations with Psychological Distress & Mortality
Highlights the factors contributing to psychological distress and mortality among farm-related occupations. Discusses the health risks associated with agricultural labor and their psychological and physical outcomes. Slide presentation from the 2020 National Rural Health Association Annual conference.
Author(s): Ahmed A. Arif, James N. Laditka, Sarah B. Laditka, Oluwaseun Adeyemi
Date: 06/2020
Type: Presentation Slides
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Farm Households Reported That Working Off the Farm Provided Greater and More Stable Income, Along with Health and Retirement Benefits
Bar chart showing reasons for off-farm jobs, comparing small family farms, midsize family farms, and large-scale family farms. Includes health benefits as one reason for off-farm employment.
Date: 06/2020
Type: Chart/Graph
Sponsoring organization: USDA Economic Research Service
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Mortality Among Persons with Both Asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Aged ≥25 Years, by Industry and Occupation — United States, 1999–2016
Reports on deaths with both asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as the underlying or contributing cause of death. Examines deaths by industry and occupation for men and women, with data by age for those 25-64 years old and 65 and older. Includes data on industries and occupations more common to rural areas, including agriculture, forestry, and mining.
Author(s): Katelynn E. Dodd, John Wood, Jacek M. Mazurek
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(22), 670-679
Date: 06/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Mental Health in a Pandemic: Q&A with Thomasine Heitkamp and Dennis Mohatt
An interview with Mountain Plains Mental Health Technology Transfer Center co-directors Thomasine Heitkamp and Dennis Mohatt on the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses telehealth, economic insecurity, broadband, and mental health under COVID-19 and self-isolation.
Author(s): Allee Mead
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 05/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Depression, Alcohol and Farm Stress: Addressing Co-Occurring Disorders in Rural America
Offers resources to help rural healthcare providers screen farmers, farmworkers, and farm families for alcohol use disorder and depression. Discusses farm stress and covers three categories of barriers to rural substance use and mental health services: accessibility, availability, and acceptability. Includes a hypothetical case scenario to illustrate the obstacles and challenges rural farm families experience when attempting to receive care for co-occurring mental health and substance use disorders.
Author(s): Maridee Shogren, Robin Landwehr, David Terry, Abby Roach-Moore, Andrew McLean
Date: 04/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Addiction Technology Transfer Center Network, Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Growing Stress on the Farm: The Expanding Economic and Mental Health Disparities in Rural Missouri
Identifies disparities in mental health outcomes and economic factors for farmers and other rural Missourians. Presents opportunities to promote access to mental health services, improve outcomes, and reduce stigma. Includes statistics on suicides in Missouri with breakdowns by metropolitan and rural areas, age, and gender, and hospital emergency visits by rural Missourians for psychiatric disorders, substance use disorder, and suicidality.
Author(s): M. Reidhead, J. Medows, K. Dothage, et al.
Date: 02/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: Missouri Coalition for Community Behavioral Healthcare, Missouri Department of Mental Health, Missouri Farm Bureau, Missouri Hospital Association, University of Missouri Extension
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Farmer Stress in Georgia: Results of a Survey
Results of a survey measuring type and intensity of stressors affecting Georgia farmers, based on information gathered from 118 attendees at the 2019 Georgia Farm Bureau Convention. Features statistics with breakdowns by demographics, specific types of farming employment, and top stressors.
Author(s): Anna Scheyett
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: University of Georgia School of Social Work
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Assessing Health and Safety Concerns and Psychological Stressors among Agricultural Workers in the U.S. Midwest
Results of a 2018 study of 540 farmers in Iowa, Ohio, Missouri, Minnesota, and Nebraska, identifying agricultural work stressors including chemical and equipment safety, finances, and health concerns such as hearing loss, respiratory problems, depression, and acute illnesses. Examines differences between mail and in-person survey modes, and compares their effectiveness in promoting farm workers' willingness to participate in the surveys. Features demographics and statistics on the types of stress experienced.
Author(s): Kanika Arora, Marsha Cheyney, Fredric Gerr, et al.
Citation: Journal of Agricultural Safety and Health, 26(1), 45-58
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers
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Suicide Rates by Industry and Occupation — National Violent Death Reporting System, 32 States, 2016
Examines suicide rates for major industry and occupational groups and detailed occupational groups. Includes information on suicide rates for occupations that are largely rural, including farmers, ranchers, and other agricultural managers; agricultural workers; and fishing and hunting workers.
Additional links: Supplementary Table 1: Major Industry Groups, Supplementary Table 2: Major and Detailed Occupational Groups
Author(s): Cora Peterson, Aaron Sussell, Jia Li, et al.
Citation: MMWR (Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report), 69(3), 57-62
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience: A Guide for Extension Educational Programming
A guide for educators focused on programming to reduce risk and increase resilience for farms and farm families. Includes a risk and resilience framework, logic models for programming with three different audiences, tools for assessment and teaching, and teaching resources. Part of the Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Toolkit.
Additional links: Creating a Thriving Farm Visuals, Descriptions and Stacking Game, Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Logic Models, Farm and Farm Family Risk and Resilience Program Planning Tool
Author(s): Bonnie Braun, Maria Pippidis
Date: 01/2020
Type: Document
Sponsoring organizations: University of Cooperative Delaware Extension, University of Maryland Extension
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