Alcohol and farmers

Alcohol is widely used in social interactions but it can cause health, social, and safety problems when not used responsibly. One in four Australians drink at risky levels. People in farming communities are more likely to binge drink (consume alcohol at short-term risky levels) when compared with the general Australian population.

Farmers must take special care not to be under the influence of alcohol while using (or supervising others using) farm equipment, tractors, bikes, and other vehicles; handling animals; or supervising children. Alcohol affects your attention, concentration, coordination and judgement–putting you and others at greater risk of injury or death. The short-term harmful effects of alcohol can be increased when taken with illicit drugs, and prescribed or over-the-counter medications.

Misusing alcohol causes harm to people other than the drinker. Alcohol contributes to violence and family conflict.  Alcohol is involved in 23-63% of all family violence reported to the police. Alcohol is associated with an increased risk of violence occurring and an increase in the level of harm that results from this violence.

The less you drink, the lower your risk of harm from alcohol-related disease and injury. Current government guidelines recommend limiting your alcohol to no more than four standard drinks on any one day and no more than 10 standard drinks per week. Drinking at risky levels can cause serious short and long-term health effects. 10-15% of all presentations to hospital emergency departments are alcohol-related. One in four road deaths are the result of drink driving. If you are pregnant or under 18 years of age, it is recommended that you do not drink alcohol at all.

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of a range of cancers including liver, breast, colorectal, pancreatic, mouth, oesophageal and throat. Risk increases as more alcohol is consumed. Alcohol can also reduce the function of the immune system, and cause or exacerbate sleep problems and sexual dysfunction. There is no clear evidence that drinking a small amount of alcohol protects against heart disease or type 2 diabetes.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, alcohol use increased in rural areas. This was particularly notable for people experiencing higher stress and anxiety, those having to manage childcare challenges, and people whose employment was under threat.

Rural issues – alcohol and mental health

Alcohol plays a role in both the development and progression of poor mental health and suicide. Drinking can increase the chances of developing a mental health condition in at-risk people (e.g. people prone to depression or anxiety). Self-medication with alcohol is a common, but unsafe and ineffective coping strategy for farmers and other people living in rural and remote areas. Alcohol only masks the symptoms of depression and stress, and can make you feel worse. Alcohol misuse is also a risk factor for suicide. Support services can assist rural people to find other ways to tackle tough times.

Find out more about this topic on Better Health Channel

Fast facts:

• Alcohol, when not used responsibly, can damage your health and contribute to violence and risk of injury or death
• Food may slow down absorption of alcohol, but it will still hit your bloodstream and affect your judgement.
• Don’t use beer to quench your thirst while working; it will increase your risk of accidents. Drink water or non-alcoholic drinks instead.

Farmer fitness

Farming is still a physically demanding way of life, but it is not as active as it was in the past.  Machinery and other vehicles now assist with a lot of the physical work and farmers spend a lot more time sitting down than walking.

Like the rest of the population, many farmers are not as fit as they could be and many are becoming overweight. Being overweight and inactive increases your risk of many serious health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, some cancers, mental health problems and musculoskeletal aches and pains. It is important to be fit in three areas – cardiovascular fitness, strength and suppleness (flexibility/mobility). Therefore, to stay healthy it is important to find ways to be active and take part some form in daily exercise.

This can be done by building exercise into your daily routine, for example, you might choose to walk for short trips and leave the quad bike behind; take a break and do some stretches or lifts.

Looking after yourself is part of looking after your farm

• Walk down to check the stock and leave the quad bike in the shed.
• Do some stretches before you start work and throughout the day, wherever you happen to be, the shed, the house, or out in the paddock.
• Do some gardening – why not dig over the vegie plot?
• Do structured recreational activity like playing golf, water skiing,  strength work outs, bushwalking
• 10,000 steps is the recommended daily step goal for a healthy adult
• Safety tips
• Medical checks– if you are over 35, have a pre-existing illness or haven’t done much physical activity for a while, have a medical check-up first.
• Exercise with care– be mindful of traffic and farm equipment when you are exercising.
• Sun– wear hats, sunscreen and clothing that best protects you from the sun.

Click here for a downloadable PDF for you to print and put in your tractor/header.

Fast facts:

• Farmers don’t do as much physical activity as they used to, and need to include daily exercise to be more active to stay healthy.
• Build exercise into your daily routine, walk for short trips and leave the quad bike behind; take a break and do some stretches or lifts.
• There are 1440 minutes in every day – use 30 of them for physical activity.

Farmer e-Health program

Farm life is busy, but it’s important to find time to look after your health. We’re giving Australian farmers a unique opportunity to use an extensive, FREE, and totally confidential, online health program to help you manage your health.

What you can do
•    Create your personal health profile (and update it as often as you like)
•    Track your personal health status
•    Use the extensive library of health information, quizzes and tools
•    Receive regular emails with health tips tailored to your personal health needs
This program is used by farmers all around Australia.

VFF sets rural agenda for 2014 State Election

The VFF is calling for $500,000 to fund the National Centre for Farmer Health

Media Release no longer available.

CWA Support for National Centre

Members of the local Country Women’s Association (CWA) have raised $500 to show their support for the National Centre for Farmers Health (NCFH).

The vibrant group of young women from the Hamilton Evening Branch of the CWA organised a successful movie night in October last year and several members visited the NCFH this week to hear more about the Centre’s work.

Branch President Natalie Templeton said the CWA was keen to support the NCFH, which is currently seeking funding from State and Federal Governments to continue its work.

“Quite a few of our members are from farming backgrounds and we recognise the support the NCFH provides to our families”, she said.

“The Hamilton Evening Branch of the CWA provides opportunities for social interaction and to learn new skills. We also support local causes where we can”, Ms Templeton said.

The funds will be used to purchase a portable fridge / freezer for transporting samples collected during research and health assessments.

NCFH Director, Associate Professor Sue Brumby said:

“We are very grateful to the local support shown by the Hamilton Evening Branch CWA and look forward to utilising the portable freezer to improve the health and wellbeing of our farm men and women”.

If you would like to become a member of the CWA Hamilton Evening Branch please contact Natalie Templeton on 0439 336 970.

Caption:  NCFH Director, Sue Brumby, Hamilton CWA Evening Branch President Natalie Templeton, Vice President, Yvette Morton and Treasurer, Tina Dunbabin, with NCFH Lecturer / Researcher Dr Jacquie Cotton.

2014 International Year of Family Farming

National Farmers’ Federation (Source: The Rural)

The National Farmers’ Federation (NFF) and its members have hailed the start of the new year, encouraging all Australians to join with them in celebrating the International Year of Family Farming during 2014. Read the full story at The Rural »

Family farming vital to ensure world food security (Source: ABC Rural)

Preserving family farming is the best way to ensure the world’s food security, according to Jose Osaba from the World Rural Forum. Read the full story at ABC Rural »

For more information about 2014 International Year of Family Farming please visit the website.

In search of farmers …

Have you lost someone close to you through suicide, accidental death, homicide or a death by unknown cause or intent?

Are you an adult member of a farming family?

Do you live in Western, Central or Northern Victoria,
Eastern South Australia or Southern NSW?

If you are willing to share your experiences of bereavement or would like more information about the Farming Families Wellbeing and Bereavement Study

please contact Alison Kennedy at the
National Centre for Farmer Health on (03) 5551 8587 or
email alison.kennedy@wdhs.net or akenne31@myune.edu.au

Download Participant Information Sheet [PDF 197kb]

Support farmer health – NCFH continues to battle for core funding to survive

Add your name to the list

The National Centre for Farmer Health continues to lobby the Victorian and Federal Governments for core funding to survive and continue its important work to improve the health, wellbeing & safety of Farm Families & Farm Workers; thereby contributing to productivity. Further support is necessary to help highlight the necessity of proven, essential services offered to improve the health, wellbeing & safety of farm men, women, families and agricultural workers. You can offer your support by writing a letter to your local State and /or Federal Member of Parliament. A sample letter is available for download.

Download letter to send to your MP

Alcohol Consumption, Obesity, and Psychological Distress in Farming Communities—An Australian Study

Alcohol consumption patterns nationally and internationally have been identified as elevated in rural and remote populations. In the general Australian population, 20.5% of adult males and 16.9% of adult females drink at short‐term, high‐risk levels. Farmers are more likely to drink excessively than those living in major cities. This study seeks to explore the relationships between farmers’ physical and mental health and their alcohol consumption patterns. Our hypothesis is that farmers consume alcohol at high‐risk levels more often than the Australian average and that this consumption is associated with obesity and psychological distress.

Training and Experience of Nurses in Responding to Alcohol Misuse in Rural Communities

Alcohol misuse by farmers continues to challenge rural nurses. This article reports on the experiences of Australian nurses participating in the Alcohol Intervention Training Program (AITP).

International Perspectives on Psychosocial Working Conditions, Mental Health, and Stress of Dairy Farm Operators

The effect of physical activity on psychological distress, cortisol and obesity: results of the farming fit intervention program