Collaboration between RSABI and University of Glasgow starts.
A major new research initiative focused on suicide prevention in agriculture has got underway following the appointment of Katie Bryan as the researcher for a three-year PhD project.
The £85,000 research project is being delivered through a collaboration between RSABI, the charity supporting people in Scottish agriculture, and the University of Glasgow, with the aim to deepen understanding and develop effective strategies to prevent suicide in Scotland’s farming and crofting communities.
The project will be jointly supervised by Professor Rory O’Connor, Director of the Suicidal Behaviour Research Lab, and Professor Katie Robb, Professor of Behavioural Science and Health at the University of Glasgow.
“We are delighted to be partnering with RSABI on this important project,” said Professor O’Connor.
“For far too long, improving the understanding of suicide risk in agricultural communities has not received the attention it needs. Over the next three years, we hope to gain a better understanding of the specific factors associated with suicide risk, which will, in turn, inform suicide prevention efforts nationally and internationally.”
Katie Bryan brings both mental health academic expertise and a personal connection to the agricultural sector. Having been brought up on a farm in South Ayrshire, Katie has also travelled around the country to agricultural shows with her father who has a sound engineering business, providing audio support for shows.
“I’m really excited to take on this project, as it’s an area that means a great deal to me,” said Katie.
“My undergraduate dissertation explored wellbeing, stress and coping in farming families, and my master’s research examined how farmers and stakeholders perceive mental health and wellbeing initiatives in agriculture.
“Continuing this area of work as part of my PhD at the University of Glasgow feels like a natural next step and a deeply important one. Suicide rates in farming remain far too high, and I’m looking forward to supporting change that comes from within the farming community, ensuring that any solutions are shaped by farmers, not just for them.
“I’m also thrilled to continue working with RSABI, whose team are so dedicated and inspiring, and to collaborate with Rory and Katie at the University of Glasgow, who bring such incredible expertise to this area.”
The research getting underway marks a significant step forward in addressing mental health challenges in agriculture.
The findings of the study will directly inform RSABI’s suicide prevention activities and wider mental health support work, helping to deliver more tailored services, targeted campaigns, and innovative tools to support those at risk and those affected by suicide in our industry.
RSABI is part of a community of organisations backing Scotland’s national suicide prevention campaign which highlights the need to normalise talking about suicide and give people the confidence to have a conversation that might just save someone’s life.
The launch of this study follows RSABI’s recent appointment of Josie Barclay in the charity’s newly created role of Suicide Prevention Lead, supported by funding secured from the Alastair and Margaret Miller Charitable Trust.
In addition to overseeing the research project, the aim of Josie’s role is to maximise the opportunity for partnership working and collaboration with specialist organisations involved in suicide prevention, in line with the Scottish Government’s Prevention Strategy, Creating Hope Together.
Alongside the campaign, a website with a range of information, resources and a local services directory is available at www.suicideprevention.scot
This work is led by Suicide Prevention Scotland and RSABI is one of the community of organisations working to deliver the Scottish Government and COSLA’s joint suicide prevention strategy, Creating Hope Together.RSABI’s free confidential support service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, by calling 0808 1234 555 (calls won’t show up on phone bills) or through a confidential webchat service, available on RSABI’s website www.rsabi.org.uk.
