Transcript Mental Health First Aid Training for Advisory Agents

Mental Health First Aid
Training for Advisory Agents
Working with Farmers
A/Prof Don Gorman
Dr Delwar Hossain
Dr Rob Eley
Dr Jeff Coutts
Farming-- used to be….
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Long Term Drought in
Australia
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Impact
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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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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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Farming & Mental Health
Drought,
↓production,
↓Govt
Assistance,
↓Credit,
Relationship
breakdown,
Ageing
Farmers,
Reduced
Workforce etc
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Depression, Stress, Anxiety,
Frustration, Fear, Anger, Agitation,
Lack of Confidence, Indecision,
Loneliness, Nervousness, Feelings of
Worthlessness (Sartore et al. 2008)
Risk of Suicide
and/or
Mental Illness
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Possible Impact or AAs
Drought,
↓production,
↓Govt
Assistance,
↓Credit,
Relationship
breakdown,
Ageing
Farmers,
Reduced
Workforce etc
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Education,
Support,
Resilience,
Prevention
Depression, Stress, Anxiety,
Frustration, Fear, Anger, Agitation,
Lack of Confidence, Indecision,
Loneliness, Nervousness, Feelings of
Worthlessness (Sartore et al. 2008)
AAs + Training
Symptom
identification, Support,
Communication,
Empathy, Referral
Referral,
Early Intervention
Risk of Suicide
and/or
Mental Illness
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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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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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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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Training- MHFA course
Sept 2007
Group 1
Group 2
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Pre assessment
&
Training
March 2008
Sept 2008
Six month
assessment
Pre assessment
&
Training
Six month
assessment
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Demographic profile
Brief Info
Group1
Group2
n
%
n
%
Sex–Male
–Female
8
9
47
53
4
11
27
73
–below 25
–25-34
–35-44
–45 and above
4
6
3
4
23
36
18
23
0
5
3
7
0
33
20
47
13
4
77
23
3
12
20
80
6
11
35
65
2
13
13
87
Age-
Work Experience–5yrs
–> 5yrs
Exp Mental Health
Problem
–Yes
–No
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Findings: Confidence in helping
mentally ill people
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
G1 pre training
G1 six month
G2 pretraining
G2 six month
2.53
3.18
2.4
3.22
Series1
Series2
Confidence
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Group
Pre
Training
Six month
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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Findings: Mental Health
Knowledge (mean)
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10.33
10.06
10
8
6.13
5.94
6
4
2
0
G1 pre training
Knowledge
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G1six month
G2 pretraining
G2 six month
Group
Pre
Training
Six month
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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Findings: Stigmatizing
attitudes
4
3.5
3
2.5
2
1.5
1
0.5
0
Series1
G1 pre training
G1 six month
G2 pretraining
G2 six month
2.74
3.38
3.55
3.81
Stigmatized
attitude
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Group
Pre
Training
Six month
G1
2.74
3.38
t=-7.302,
=.001
G2
3.55
3.81
t=-.891,
=.38
Combined
G1&G2
2.74
3.22
t=-2.38,
=.02
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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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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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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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