WEBINAR:
Climate Change and Farmer Mental Health: A Participatory and Systems-Based Approach
SYNOPSIS:
Presenter: Dr. Christopher Weatherly, University of Georgia School of Social Work
Because of their closeness to and dependence on the land, climate change will disproportionately impact farmer mental health. Despite local and global reliance on US farmers' health and wellbeing, there are limited studies elucidating the impacts of our changing climate on their mental health. This webinar will highlight a research project where Dr. Weatherly spoke with both farmers and the mental health providers that serve them about the various cultural and structural factors underlying the relationship between climate change and farmer mental health. The project took place in southeast Iowa, and findings add to our understanding of climate change as a stress multiplier for farmers. This project also provides insight into best practices for approaching farmers on the topics of both climate change and mental health.