How Does ifarmwell.com.au Work? Evaluation and Key Mechanisms of a Self-Help Online Intervention for Farmers
Tracks
Ballroom A - In Person Only
| Thursday, November 10, 2022 |
| 2:10 PM - 2:30 PM |
Overview
Dr Gemma Skaczkowski, University of South Australia
Speaker
Dr Gemma Skaczkowski
Research Fellow
University Of South Australia
How Does ifarmwell.com.au Work? Evaluation and Key Mechanisms of a Self-Help Online Intervention for Farmers
Abstract
Farming is a physically and psychologically hazardous occupation and farmers’ face barriers to accessing traditional health and mental health services, and high rates of suicide. Our preliminary research highlighted acceptance of things beyond your control and not giving up on the things within your control, are two key coping strategies that differentiate farmers who do, and farmers who do not, experience high levels of distress. Farmers also indicated openness to using online wellbeing interventions, providing they are practical and relevant. In collaboration with farmers, we then co-designed an online self-help intervention informed by Acceptance and Commitment Therapy; www.ifarmwell.com.au. The intervention is designed to equip farmers with coping strategies that help reduce the negative impact that stressful situations have on their lives, in particular, things that are beyond their control like the weather.
We evaluated responses from Australian farmers who completed measures at the commencement of module 1 (N=228), the end of the intervention (N=77) and 6-months post-intervention (N=61). Following use of ifarmwell, users’ distress levels were lower, mental wellbeing was higher, and these effects were maintained at 6-months post-intervention. Gains were greatest for those who entered the intervention with high baseline distress and low baseline mental wellbeing. As hypothesised, the mechanisms through which ifarmwell was found to work are by decreasing psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion and believability of thoughts, and by increasing coping via acceptance and mindfulness.
This research shows that an online intervention co-designed by farmers for farmers, that also is informed by psychological science, particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is an impactful approach for helping farmers to deal with things beyond their control, reduce their levels of distress and improve their mental wellbeing. This has important implications for suicide prevention efforts in this at-risk population. Future efforts will be focused on expanding its reach.
We evaluated responses from Australian farmers who completed measures at the commencement of module 1 (N=228), the end of the intervention (N=77) and 6-months post-intervention (N=61). Following use of ifarmwell, users’ distress levels were lower, mental wellbeing was higher, and these effects were maintained at 6-months post-intervention. Gains were greatest for those who entered the intervention with high baseline distress and low baseline mental wellbeing. As hypothesised, the mechanisms through which ifarmwell was found to work are by decreasing psychological inflexibility, cognitive fusion and believability of thoughts, and by increasing coping via acceptance and mindfulness.
This research shows that an online intervention co-designed by farmers for farmers, that also is informed by psychological science, particularly Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, is an impactful approach for helping farmers to deal with things beyond their control, reduce their levels of distress and improve their mental wellbeing. This has important implications for suicide prevention efforts in this at-risk population. Future efforts will be focused on expanding its reach.
Biography
Dr Gemma Skaczkowski is a Research Fellow at the University of South Australia. She is a behavioural researcher and evaluation expert. Her current work largely focuses on monitoring the impact of ifarmwell.com.au and other online mental health-focused interventions, and expanding their reach.
