Use of social network analysis to describe service links for farmers' mental health.
OBJECTIVE
The primary mental health care needs of farmers require that service innovations incorporate rural support workers into a local service network. This component of the FarmLink pilot sought to develop a social network analysis method that would describe local mental health-related human service networks. The purpose is to inform improvements in this network and to serve as a baseline against which such improvements can be evaluated.


METHODS
A pilot survey of rural human service providers who deal with mental health-related issues among farmers about their self-reported links between each other.


METHODS
Service delivery agencies associated with a small rural town in New South Wales.


METHODS
Twenty-five agents from a range of human services involved in rural human support services to farmers, such as from agricultural and drought support, welfare, primary health care and education.


METHODS
Telephone interview prior to the conduct of a Mental Health First Aid seminar and a Farmers Mental Health and Wellbeing workshop.


METHODS
Agent self-reported service links over the past three months for information exchange, client referrals and working together in relation to helping farmers for mental health, emotional health or stress-related problems. Analysis trialled on the 'made referrals' link shows the network influence, prominence and intermediary status of the rural financial counsellor.


CONCLUSIONS
Within the limitations of recalled self-report data, social network analysis provides a useful network description for informing and evaluating service network improvements.
Fuller
Jeffrey
J
University Department of Rural Health (Northern Rivers), University of Sydney and Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, Australia. jeffreyfuller@nrahs.nsw.gov.au
Kelly
Brian
B
Sartore
Gina
G
Fragar
Lynne
L
Tonna
Anne
A
Pollard
Georgia
G
Hazell
Trevor
T
D000382:Agricultural Workers' Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003156:Community Mental Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019058:Community Networks / Q000458:organization & administration*; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011320:Primary Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D024382:Professional Role; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012017:Referral and Consultation / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012107:Research Design; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D016526:Workload / Q000706:statistics & numerical data