Citation

Kennedy AJ, Brumby SA, Versace VL, Brumby-Rendell T. BMC Public Health 2018; 18(1): e846.

Affiliation

National Centre for Farmer Health, Western District Health Service, PO Box 283, Hamilton, VIC, 3300, Australia.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2018, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group - BMC)

DOI

10.1186/s12889-018-5750-9

PMID

29980237

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In Australia, farming populations have been identified as having higher rates of suicide, in comparison to metropolitan, rural and regional communities. The reasons for this are unclear although stigma is considered a risk factor. This study was designed to understand the role of suicide stigma and suicide literacy and the relationship between these.

METHODS: A mixed-methods online intervention was developed. This paper reports on baseline quantitative data (suicide stigma, suicide literacy and suicide effect) collected from male and female rural Australian participants (N = 536) with an experience of suicide.

RESULTS: When compared with previous Australian community samples, our sample demonstrated higher levels of stigma and higher levels of suicide literacy. Males were more likely to have considered suicide than females. Females were more likely than males to report a devastating and ongoing effect of suicide bereavement, but less likely than a previous Australian community sample.

CONCLUSION: Results of this study reiterate the need for improved understanding of the risk factors and experience of suicide within the context of life and work in rural Australian farming communities and how 'best practice' can be adapted to improve stigma reduction and suicide prevention efforts. TRIAL REGISTRATION: This research project was registered with the Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ANZCTR) ( ACTRN12616000289415 ) on 7th March, 2016.

Language: en

Keywords

Australia; Digital intervention; Farmer health; Mixed method research; Rural health; Suicide effect; Suicide literacy; Suicide stigma