The Rural Agribusiness Wellbeing Project: Understanding the Experience of Small Rural Agribusiness Owners to Develop Tailored Mental Health Resources
Tracks
Ballroom A - In Person Only
| Thursday, November 10, 2022 |
| 1:45 PM - 2:05 PM |
Overview
Alyse Berrigan, Everymind
Speaker
Alyse Berrigan
Project Officer
Everymind
The Rural Agribusiness Wellbeing Project: Understanding the experience of small rural agribusiness owners to develop tailored mental health resources
Abstract
Most businesses in Australian agricultural industries are in rural and remote areas and 80% are small businesses. Living and working in rural and remote areas can present many unique challenges, particularly for small agribusiness owners who work long hours in physically demanding jobs, and whose livelihoods may depend on environmental conditions. These are in addition to the challenges typically faced by rural communities such as isolation and difficulty accessing support services, as well as the stressors typically faced by small business owners such as managing multiple responsibilities and difficulty taking leave.
Research shows that small business owners experience symptoms of depression and anxiety at higher rates than the general population. Additionally, people living in rural and remote areas are disproportionately impacted by mental ill-health, suicidal distress and self-harm than metropolitan areas, particularly in agricultural communities. Owning a small agricultural business, coupled with living in a rural area increases the risk of mental ill-health and distress, making this unique population an important target for mental health interventions.
To better support the agricultural community, the Rural Agribusiness Wellbeing Project aims to understand the unique experiences and preferences of small rural agribusiness owners by gathering both qualitative and quantitative data through surveys and interviews. This will inform the co-design of tailored online resources intended to support mental health, wellbeing and resilience, and prevent stress, burnout and fatigue.
This presentation will explore the findings of this project and discuss the best approaches to supporting small rural agribusinesses including:
• Key stressors that need to be addressed
• Main differences to metropolitan businesses and how to address them
• Topics and areas of support to be addressed
• The appropriate use of language
• Rewards and challenges of running a small rural business
• Barriers and enablers to accessing online mental health information and support.
Research shows that small business owners experience symptoms of depression and anxiety at higher rates than the general population. Additionally, people living in rural and remote areas are disproportionately impacted by mental ill-health, suicidal distress and self-harm than metropolitan areas, particularly in agricultural communities. Owning a small agricultural business, coupled with living in a rural area increases the risk of mental ill-health and distress, making this unique population an important target for mental health interventions.
To better support the agricultural community, the Rural Agribusiness Wellbeing Project aims to understand the unique experiences and preferences of small rural agribusiness owners by gathering both qualitative and quantitative data through surveys and interviews. This will inform the co-design of tailored online resources intended to support mental health, wellbeing and resilience, and prevent stress, burnout and fatigue.
This presentation will explore the findings of this project and discuss the best approaches to supporting small rural agribusinesses including:
• Key stressors that need to be addressed
• Main differences to metropolitan businesses and how to address them
• Topics and areas of support to be addressed
• The appropriate use of language
• Rewards and challenges of running a small rural business
• Barriers and enablers to accessing online mental health information and support.
Biography
Alyse Berrigan is a Project Officer at Everymind working on workplace mental health, with a particular focus on small business. Alyse currently leads the Rural Agribusiness Wellbeing Project which focuses on developing tailored online tools to support the mental health of small rural agribusiness owners. She also leads on the Ahead for Business program which supports small business owners take action on their mental health through online tools and resources. Alyse holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours) and a Graduate Certificate in Project Management.
