Improving the mental health of farmers: preferences and feasibility for community based supports.

Farming is worth approx. £917 million per year to Scotland. However, the mental health of farmers is poor and one farmer per week takes their own life. There is still a perceived stigma around mental illness and farmers are more likely to turn to their own communities for support rather than formal services. Many also prefer to use anonymous supports such as the internet or self help booklets. However, the evidence base for interventions for farmers is limited: we do not know which types of intervention are most acceptable and helpful. This study will address this gap by assessing preferences for an on-line CBT based approach (with telephone support) versus a social support system (with telephone support) and the feasibility of recruiting and engaging/sustaining farmers to use these interventions and to complete outcome measures (for a future trial).