Farmers face constant uncertainty: weather, politics and market fluctuations are all factors out of their control. Clinical psychologist Adri Prinsloo spoke to Lindi Botha about how this, combined with relative isolation, contributes to worrying levels of depression and suicide.
Studies conducted globally on farmers’ mental health have one thing in common: they show that farmers suffer a higher rate of suicide than any other working group.
While no studies have been conducted in South Africa on suicide and depression among farmers, studies in several other countries all show similar results. A 2014 Australian study, ‘Suicide and accidental death in Australia’s rural farming communities: A review of the literature’, found that farmers had a suicide rate one-and-a-half times that of the general population.
Another survey, the HUNT study performed in Norway, found that both male and female farmers had higher levels of depression symptoms than those of the general working population. In addition, the differences in these levels between farmers and the general working population increased with age.
This study also found that few occupations had undergone more profound changes in recent decades than farming, and the number of Norwegian farmers had decreased.
Despite geographical and political differences, the same trends can be seen in most industrialised countries, and the demands and stressors that farmers face appear to be similar across borders.
In South Africa, as in Norway, occupational stressors unique to farmers, such as the physical environment, family structure, farm economy and bureaucracy, have in recent years been aggravated by structural and economic changes in agriculture.
EXTREMITIES
Adri Prinsloo, a clinical psychologist at the University of Pretoria, who specialises in gender and mental health, says farmers are required to have a broad base of knowledge and skills, from crop or livestock production, to engineering and economic skills, as well as public relations.
Denne historien er fra June 8, 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
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Denne historien er fra June 8, 2018-utgaven av Farmer's Weekly.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Syngenta Seedcare celebrates a decade of innovation
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Agri workers shine at Western Cape awards
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Small and large farmers recognised at grain awards
The annual Grain SA/Syngenta awards ceremony bears testimony to the quality of farmers in the grain industry.
Growing partnerships: Fedgroup's flexible and innovative approach
Janine Ryan spoke to Warren Winchester, general manager of impact investing at Fedgroup, about why the company became involved in agriculture, and what it offers farmers and their immediate communities.
Why fish farms fail, and how to avoid becoming a statistic
The popularity of launching fish farms is not matched by their success. Leslie Ter Morshuizen, owner of Aquaculture Solutions, explores the factors that cause most of these businesses to go under.
Where history and modernity meet in a luxurious setting
Brian Berkman kept his eyes peeled for ghosts in the oldest continuously run hotel in South Africa, but all he found was a fabulous two-night stay.
THE HITCHING POST
I'm a stylish elderly lady with a radiant glow and a good sense of humour that keeps me young at heart.
Cutworms: check the weeds on your fields!
Zunel van Eeden explains why understanding the ecological interplay between cutworms and weeds is crucial for effective pest management. Producers should disrupt the life cycle of cutworms to minimise crop damage.
Does high-density grazing mimic grazing patterns of game?
In their paper on high-density grazing in Southern Africa, professors Angelinus Franke and Elmarie Kotzé from the Department of Soil, Crop and Climate Sciences at the University of the Free State say high-density grazing systems may not accurately reflect natural ecosystems. Roelof Bezuidenhout reports.
Global grain outlook: 2024/25 marketing season
In its latest summer crops report, the Crop Estimates Committee says South African farmers intend to plant 4,47 million hectares of summer grains and oilseeds in the 2024/25 season, up 1% from the previous season. As South Africa exports maize and soya bean, Annelie Coleman reports on the latest trends in the international grain and oilseed markets, amid fluctuations in weather conditions and ongoing armed conflicts.
