An Analysis of Secondary Students’ Understanding of Farmer Suicide Drivers Following a State-Wide Essay Competition

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Summary

The 105 essays analyzed were written over the course of three years and collected by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Axial coding was used to analyze the essays. The researchers concluded that students expressed components of thwarted belongingness and perceived burdensomeness approximately equally, though there was a wide variety in the scope and meaningfulness of sentiments. Students tended to recognize and offer support appropriately three times as often as they addressed the feelings and situations which may push a farmer to feel thwarted belongingness or perceived burdensomeness. Help-giving advice for belongingness was generally more substantial than that for burdensomeness, reflecting the maturity and social situation of high-school students; social isolation and loneliness were likely more relatable issues. Moving forward, providing trainings such as the QPR Institute's Question, Persuade, Refer or LivingWork's SafeTalk may increase the effectiveness of students' help-giving attempt.