The Burden of Farmer Suicide on Surviving Family Members: A Qualitative Study

Issues Ment Health Nurs. 2020 Jan;41(1):66-72. doi: 10.1080/01612840.2019.1661048. Epub 2019 Nov 26.

Abstract

The purpose of this descriptive qualitative study was to better understand the burden of farmer suicide on surviving family members. Themes included: (1) family members expressed guilt; (2) family members experienced symptoms of psychological distress; (3) family members felt attached to the land and chose to remain on the farm; (4) short-term coping mechanisms included family, friends and faith; (5) long-term coping mechanisms included acts of honoring their loved one; (6) there was a lack of awareness of community support resources following the suicide.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptation, Psychological
  • Family / psychology*
  • Farmers / psychology*
  • Female
  • Grief
  • Guilt
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Qualitative Research
  • Social Support
  • Stress, Psychological
  • Suicide / psychology*
  • Survivors / psychology*