Occupational Therapy’s Role in Farmer Mental Health
Farmers experience high rates of stress, anxiety, depression, and suicide. These rates are due to unique stressors of owning and working the farm as well as physical and social barriers to accessing mental health care.
Resources
Occupational therapists are in a position to assess and address mental health conditions in farmers and refer farmers and their families to mental health resources online and in their community. The following handouts include resources for occupational therapists and other clinicians to use while working with farmers.
Assessments
Assessments and screenings that a clinician can use to help identify the presence of mental health conditions as well as the patient’s current coping strategies and level of occupational balance.
Financial Resources
Financial resources to provide to a farmer and their family if they are facing financial stressors. These resources include mediation, financial assistance, and transition/succession support programs.
Further Education
Further education opportunities for occupational therapists and other clinicians to learn more about farmer safety and health and responding to farmers experiencing mental health crises.
OTFMH PowerPoint
This presentation covers occupational therapy’s role in addressing farmer mental health and includes an overview of farmer mental health in the U.S., assessments used to identify farmer mental health conditions, ways occupational therapists can address farmer mental health within their treatment sessions, and more.
About the author
The materials on this page were created by Erin Morley in conjunction with the Great Plains Center for Agricultural Health. If you are looking for more information or would like to bring the “OT’s Role in Farmer Mental Health” training to your organization, please contact Erin Morley.