The Impact of COVID-19 on Farmers' Mental Health: A Case Study of the UK
The Impact of COVID-19 on Farmers' Mental Health: A Case Study of the UK
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COVID-19 对农民心理健康的影响：英国案例研究
DOI：
10.1080/1059924x.2022.2137616
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发表时间：
2022
影响因子：
2.4
通讯作者：
Rose D
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Rose D
在本文中，我们使用英国的一个案例研究来探讨COVID-19大流行如何影响农民的心理健康（情感、心理和社会福祉）。我们概述了农业心理健康状况不佳的驱动因素、疫情在政策和环境变化时期的多重影响，并确定了可以吸取的教训，以提高农业社区抵御未来冲击的能力。方法我们对英国各地的207名农民进行了调查，重点关注心理健康状况不佳的驱动因素和COVID-19大流行的影响。我们还对英格兰、苏格兰和威尔士为农民提供心理健康支持的个人进行了22次深度访谈。这些研究探讨了COVID-19大流行如何以及为什么影响农民的心理健康。这些访谈是由来自类似的支持提供者小组（全英国）的93项调查回应补充的。结果：我们发现，疫情加剧了农业社区心理健康和福祉不佳的潜在驱动因素。67%的受访农民表示压力更大，63%的人感到焦虑，38%的人感到抑郁，12%的人有自杀倾向。农民在大流行期间确定的心理健康状况不佳的主要驱动因素包括社会接触和孤独感减少，私人土地上与公众的问题，以及在线参加社交活动。支持提供者还强调，关系和财务问题、疾病和政府检查是导致心理健康状况不佳的因素。相反，一些农民概述了疫情的积极影响。结论COVID-19大流行只是与农业心理健康状况不佳相关的众多潜在压力因素之一，其影响可能是长期和延迟的。同时影响农民的多种压力因素可能会产生一个临界点。因此，有必要对农业家庭心理健康状况不佳的驱动因素提供长期支持和持续评估。
ObjectivesIn this paper, we use a UK case study to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health (emotional, psychological, social wellbeing) of farmers. We outline the drivers of poor farming mental health, the manifold impacts of the pandemic at a time of policy and environmental change, and identify lessons that can be learned to develop resilience in farming communities against future shocks.MethodsWe undertook a survey answered by 207 farmers across the UK, focusing on drivers of poor mental health and the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. We also conducted 22 in-depth interviews with individuals in England, Scotland and Wales who provide mental health support to farmers. These explored how and why the COVID-19 pandemic affected the mental health of farmers. These interviews were supplemented by 93 survey responses from a similar group of support providers (UK-wide).ResultsWe found that the pandemic exacerbated underlying drivers of poor mental health and wellbeing in farming communities. 67% of farmers surveyed reported feeling more stressed, 63% felt more anxious, 38% felt more depressed, and 12% felt more suicidal. The primary drivers of poor mental health identified by farmers during the pandemic included decreased social contact and loneliness, issues with the general public on private land, and moving online for social events. Support providers also highlighted relationship and financial issues, illness, and government inspections as drivers of poor mental health. Some farmers, conversely, outlined positive impacts of the pandemic.ConclusionThe COVID-19 pandemic is just one of many potential stressors associated with poor farming mental health and its impacts are likely to be long-lasting and delayed. Multiple stressors affecting farmers at the same time can create a tipping point. Therefore, there is a need for long-term support and ongoing evaluation of the drivers of poor mental health in farming families.