Mental health in rural agricultural workers: The role of a community pharmacist.

Abstract

Agriculture is one of the United States' oldest occupations, dating back to before the founding of the country, when indigenous farmers maintained the land. Agriculture has since grown into an enormous industry, and with that has come financial and emotional strain impacting the mental health of those who strive to feed the world. Climate, financial, and stress-inducing conditions related to agriculture are leading causes of mental health crises in agricultural workers, putting this population at risk for suicidal ideation. With most farms being family-owned and operated in rural areas of the country, there is limited access to health care to address the mental health concerns occurring within the occupation. Community pharmacists are ideally positioned to bridge the mental health care gap in small-town America. By obtaining training in Mental Health First Aid and becoming equipped with mental health care knowledge, community pharmacists can aid in crisis situations, refer to proper care and support systems, and aid in early intervention with the at-risk agricultural population. By doing so, community pharmacists can strengthen their role as the most accessible health care professionals and gain recognition from a population that often finds it difficult to ask for help in situations related to their mental health. This commentary provides a review of signs and symptoms of psychiatric disorders, early mental health interventions and screening tools, and mental health resources available for pharmacist use. These considerations are necessary to support and inform community pharmacy practice when serving rural agricultural communities.