European Agency for Safety and Health at Work
Evelyn Donohoe, Francesco Camonita, Valentina Tageo, Camille Guey, Ilana Zejerman, Laura Todaro, Lode Godderis and Anke Boone
Mental health in agriculture: preventing and managing psychosocial risks for farmers and farm workers
Report
Table of Contents
Executive Summary
1 Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Methodology
1.3 Understanding the European agricultural sector
2 Overview of psychosocial risk factors and mental health in agriculture
2.1 Previous overviews
2.2 Tasks and working conditions
2.2.1 Association between MSDs and psychosocial risk
2.3 Farming cultures and social relations
2.3.1 Social relations and work–life balance
2.3.2 Culture and identity
2.4 Structural factors
2.4.1 Regulatory pressure
2.4.2 Financial instability and insecurity
2.4.3 Farm succession and the future of agriculture
2.4.4 Rurality
2.4.5 Health concerns
2.4.6 Farming type
2.4.7 Professional status
2.5 Psychosocial risks for specific groups of workers
2.5.1 Gender and sexuality
2.5.2 Age
2.5.3 Migrant and seasonal workers
2.6 Recent disruptors and societal trends
2.6.1 Digitalisation
2.6.2 Extreme weather conditions and climate change
2.6.3 Organic farming
2.6.4 The COVID-19 pandemic
2.7 Impact of psychosocial risks on workers’ health and workplaces
2.7.1 Effects on mental health
2.7.2 Other health outcomes linked with psychosocial risks at work
2.7.3 Outcomes associated with recent disruptors and societal trends
2.7.4 Impact on farm businesses
2.8 Protective factors and determinants of job engagement and satisfaction
2.8.1 Individual engagement and resilience
2.8.2 Social relationships
2.8.3 Business and job success
2.8.4 Positive farm environment
2.8.5 Organic farming
3 Stakeholder interviews
3.1 Background and participants
3.2 Psychosocial risk factors
3.2.1 Farming tasks and working conditions
3.2.2 Socio-cultural norms and interpersonal relations
3.2.3 Uncertainty, farm security and financial stability
3.2.4 Regulatory and administrative pressures
3.2.5 Climate change
3.2.6 The fourth industrial revolution
3.2.7 Groups at higher risk of psychosocial risks
3.3 Challenges in addressing psychosocial risks in the sector
3.4 Workplace risk assessment on psychosocial risks
3.5 Psychosocial risks and mental health management
4 Selection of good practices on psychosocial risks prevention, management and intervention for the agricultural sector
5 Conclusions
5.1 Discussion of results
5.1.1 Psychosocial risk factors and mental health in agriculture
5.1.2 Digitalisation, climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic
5.1.3 Demographic factors and farming typology
5.1.4 The impact of psychosocial risks on farmers’ and farm workers’ mental health
5.1.5 The impact of farmers’ and farm workers’ mental health on farm businesses
5.1.6 Approaches for enhancing farmers’ and farm workers’ mental health outcomes
5.2 Considerations
5.2.1 Lessons learned
5.2.2 Policy pointers
5.2.3 Research gaps and future research directions
6 References
7 Appendices
Appendix A — Semi-structured Interview Questionnaire
Appendix B — National social partners and industry associations
Appendix C — Organisations and networks
© European Agency for Safety and Health at Work, 2024
Reproduction is authorised, provided the source is acknowledged.
fonte: https://osha.europa.eu