1. Mental Health First Aid Training for Advisory Agents Working with Farmers
A/Prof Don Gorman
Dr Delwar Hossain
Dr Rob Eley
Dr Jeff Coutts

2. Farming-- used to be….
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3. Long Term Drought in Australia
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4. Impact
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5. The Study
Advisory Agents (AAs) lacked confidence to assist farmers with mental health problems
The study (Funded by a Foster Community Grant) aimed to provide Mental health First Aid (MHFA) training
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6. Objectives of the study
Increase MHFA knowledge and skills of AAs:
Symptom recognition
Knowledge, confidence and empathy
referral to professional help
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7. Farming & Mental Health
Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Frustration, Fear, Anger, Agitation, Lack of Confidence, Indecision, Loneliness, Nervousness, Feelings of Worthlessness (Sartore et al. 2008)
Drought, ↓production, ↓Govt Assistance, ↓Credit, Relationship breakdown, Ageing Farmers, Reduced Workforce etc
Risk of Suicide
and/or
Mental Illness
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8. Possible Impact or AAs Risk of Suicide and/or Mental Illness
Depression, Stress, Anxiety, Frustration, Fear, Anger, Agitation, Lack of Confidence, Indecision, Loneliness, Nervousness, Feelings of Worthlessness (Sartore et al. 2008)
Education, Support, Resilience, Prevention
Drought, ↓production, ↓Govt Assistance, ↓Credit, Relationship breakdown, Ageing Farmers, Reduced Workforce etc
Referral, Early Intervention
AAs + Training Symptom identification, Support, Communication, Empathy, Referral
Risk of Suicide
and/or
Mental Illness
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9. Phase 1: Focus groups
Farmers' representatives, Health professionals, and Agencies (Dept Primary Ind & Fisheries, Dept National Resources and Water, Qld Murray Darling Committee, Condamine Alliance, AgForce)
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10. Outcomes of Focus Groups
Issues Raised
pressure on rural landholders and their families
incidence and significance of mental health issues
impact on AAs and other staff
initiatives to deal with mental health issues in rural communities and/or staff
potential benefits and outcomes of training field staff
Training should include
latest data on suicide in rural and urban communities
case studies Rural and urban differences in drug and alcohol use
interpersonal communication
empathy skills
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11. Phase 2: Training Selection of Advisory & Extension Agents
Extension officers
Landcare officers
Financial counsellors
Farming systems officers, etc
Received 43 nominations from agencies
2 Groups:
Group 1 (Experimental)
Group 2 (Control)
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12. Training- MHFA course Sept 2007 March 2008 Sept 2008 Group 1
Pre assessment &
Training
Six month assessment
Group 2
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13. Demographic profile Brief Info Group1 Group2 n % Sex- 8 9 47 53 4 11
Male
Female 8 9 47 53 4 11 27 73
Age-
below 25
25-34
35-44
45 and above 6 3 23 36 18 5 7 33 20
Work Experience-
5yrs
> 5yrs 13 77 12 80
Exp Mental Health Problem
Yes No 35 65 2 87
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14. Findings: Confidence in helping mentally ill people
Group
Pre Training
Six month
Confidence G1
2.53
3.18
t=-2.34, =.02 G2
2.40
3.22
T=-3.02, =.006
Combined G1&G2
2.47
3.19
t=-3.74, =.001
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15. Findings: Mental Health Knowledge (mean)
Group
Pre Training
Six month
Knowledge G1
5.94
10.06
t=-4.47, =.001 G2
6.16
10.33
t= -3.89, =.001
Combined G1&G2
6.03
10.15
t=-6.04, =.001
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16. Findings: Stigmatizing attitudes
Group
Pre Training
Six month
Stigmatized attitude G1
2.74
3.38
t=-7.302, =.001 G2
3.55
3.81
t=-.891, =.38
Combined G1&G2
3.22
t=-2.38, =.02
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17. Findings: Effect of age, sex work experience, prior experience to mental health
Effect of age, sex and work experience
Comparison by age (up to 40 and over 40 years) showed no differences (all  > .08) in any parameters
Similarly there were no differences (all  > .10) according to sex or work experience (5 year or less or more than 5 years; all  > .20)
Effect of prior experience to mental health
Who had prior experience in mental health problem differed significantly at pre training in knowledge (t=2.92, =.007) and personal attitudes (t=-2.38, =.02) than those who indicated that they had no prior experience
Post-training there were no significant effects
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18. Discussion
Increased confidence in providing help to someone with mentally ill
Improved the ability to recognise a mental disorder of people
Increased knowledge about treatment –who to refer people to for help (seeking help, taking action and medication)
Age, sex and work experience did not have any effect.
Results are consistent with previous studies
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19. Conclusions
The MHFA training is effective in enhancing mental health knowledge and skills of Advisory and Extension Agents.
The agents who are a main line of contact of farmers are able to recognise mental disorders of people.
They are more willing to work with a stigmatized people and know who to refer people to for help.
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