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Pathways to Suicide in Australian Farmers: A Life Chart Analysis

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  • Lisa Kunde

    (Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia)

  • Kairi Kõlves

    (Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia)

  • Brian Kelly

    (Centre for Brain and Mental Health Research, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, NSW 2308, Australia)

  • Prasuna Reddy

    (Faculty of Health, University of Technology Sydney, Broadway, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
    Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College, London SE5 8AF, UK)

  • Diego De Leo

    (Australian Institute for Suicide Research and Prevention, National Centre of Excellence in Suicide Prevention, World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Research and Training in Suicide Prevention, Griffith University, Mt Gravatt Campus, Brisbane, QLD 4122, Australia)

Abstract

Farmers have been found to be at increased risk of suicide in Australia. The Interpersonal-Psychological Theory of Suicidal Behaviour suggests that the proximal factors leading to the suicidal desire or ideation include an individual’s experiences of both perceived burdensomeness and thwarted belongingness. Suicidal desire with acquired capability to engage in lethal self-injury is predictive of suicidal behaviour. This study investigates the pathways to suicide of 18 Australian male farmers in order to understand the suicidal process and antecedents to suicide in Australian male farmers. The psychological autopsy (PA) method was used to generate life charts. Two pathways with distinct suicidal processes were identified: acute situational (romantic relationship problems and financial concerns/pending retirement) and protracted (long-term psychiatric disorder). Long working hours, interpersonal conflicts, physical illnesses and pain, alcohol abuse, access to firearms, and exposure to drought were additional common factors identified. An understanding of the interrelatedness of diverse distal and proximal risk factors on suicidal pathways in the wider environmental context for male farmers is required when developing and implementing rural suicide prevention activities.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Kunde & Kairi Kõlves & Brian Kelly & Prasuna Reddy & Diego De Leo, 2017. "Pathways to Suicide in Australian Farmers: A Life Chart Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-15, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:14:y:2017:i:4:p:352-:d:94335
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Butterworth, Peter & Rodgers, Bryan & Windsor, Tim D., 2009. "Financial hardship, socio-economic position and depression: Results from the PATH Through Life Survey," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 69(2), pages 229-237, July.
    2. Batterham, Philip J. & Fairweather-Schmidt, A. Kate & Butterworth, Peter & Calear, Alison L. & Mackinnon, Andrew J. & Christensen, Helen, 2014. "Temporal effects of separation on suicidal thoughts and behaviours," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 58-63.
    3. Holly Vins & Jesse Bell & Shubhayu Saha & Jeremy J. Hess, 2015. "The Mental Health Outcomes of Drought: A Systematic Review and Causal Process Diagram," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(10), pages 1-25, October.
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    Cited by:

    1. Alison Kennedy & Jessie Adams & Jeremy Dwyer & Muhammad Aziz Rahman & Susan Brumby, 2020. "Suicide in Rural Australia: Are Farming-Related Suicides Different?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-13, March.
    2. Sahar Daghagh Yazd & Sarah Ann Wheeler & Alec Zuo, 2019. "Key Risk Factors Affecting Farmers’ Mental Health: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-23, December.
    3. Diep Ngoc Nguyen & Long Hoang Nguyen & Cuong Tat Nguyen & Hai Quang Pham & Jongnam Hwang & Giang Thu Vu & Bach Xuan Tran & Carl A. Latkin & Cyrus S. H. Ho & Roger C. M. Ho, 2019. "Health Status and Health Service Utilization among Vietnamese Farmers in a Mountainous Province," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-12, November.
    4. Nufail Khan & Alison Kennedy & Jacqueline Cotton & Susan Brumby, 2019. "A Pest to Mental Health? Exploring the Link between Exposure to Agrichemicals in Farmers and Mental Health," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-20, April.

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