By Bruce Cochrane
An Adjunct Professor with the University of Iowa says action is needed to improve the behavioral well being of our farm population.
"Psychosocial Health and Agriculture" will be discussed next week as part of the International One Welfare Conference in Winnipeg.
Dr. Michael Rosmann, an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the University of Iowa and a clinical psychologist, says, while the behavioral health of agricultural people is becoming much better understood, understanding of its effect on animals and plants is at the beginning stages.
Dr. Michael Rosmann-University of Iowa:
We do know the behavioral health of agricultural producers is important to their production.
We also know depression and anxiety disorders are more common among people involved in agriculture.
We know also that successful people in agriculture exhibit conscientiousness, are attentive to their work, are somewhat risk taking but we're also fairly prone to behavioral maladies such as depression and suicide.
It's the suicide rate among farmers around the world that has brought a lot of attention the behavioral well being of the agricultural population.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a report in early July this year which indicated that farmers undertake suicide at a higher rate than any other occupation in the country.
We also know that suicide among farmers is higher than for the general population in almost every study that has been undertaken in Great Britain, Australia and Great Britain.
Dr. Rosmann says the precedent suggests a propensity for suicide that we need to understand better and about which something needs to be done.
For more or to register for the "International One Welfare Conference" visit onewelfareconference.ca.
Source: Farmscape