WG24 – Landscapes and lifescapes of support
IAWA
ISWA2026
Working groups
WG24 – Landscapes and lifescapes of support

WG24 – Landscapes and lifescapes of support

This working group explores how life and work (in all its forms) in the agricultural sector can affect mental health and what types of support networks and interventions, including those provided through, or for, networks of advisors or other so-called ‘accidental counsellors’, can help to reduce stressors and help individuals cope with challenging situations. It investigates how strengthening mental health across these interconnected groups not only reduces harm but also enhances the sustainability and attractiveness of farm work, helping to retain a skilled and healthy rural workforce. The working groups aims to shed further light on how the mental health of those who live and work in farming communities (including farmers, workers, family members, and ‘accidental counsellors’) can be better supported including from a structural or psychological perspective.

Convenors: David Christian Rose (Harper Adams University, United Kingdom), Jennifer Howse (Royal Agricultural University, United Kingdom), Rebecca Wheeler (University of Exeter, United Kingdom), Sarah Kyle (University of Exeter, United Kingdom), Conor Hammersley (New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health, USA), Tomás Russell (University College Dublin, Ireland), Linda Reissig (Agroscope, Switzerland), Uta Devries (Thünen-Institut)

Dairy Consolidation, Identity, and Mental Health: Landscapes and Lifescapes of Support in Rural New York    
Conor Hammersley, Julie Sorensen, Destiny Trombley    
 

Supporting the Supporters; Lived Experiences of the ‘Accidental Counsellor’    
David Rose, Jennifer Howse, Katharina Watson, Damian Maye, Lisa Morgans    
 

Toward better support for mental workload: comparing dairy and poultry farmers’ definitions and perceptions    
Anne-Lise Jacquot, Nabila Gain Nachi, Nelly Glochon, Marion Ruch    
 

Talking Futures: Supporting Farmer and Advisor Wellbeing Through Future-Oriented Conversations    
Aimee Graville    
 

Informal support for mental health in farming: Understanding the experiences of ‘accidental counsellors’    
Rebecca Wheeler, Matt Lobley, Lucy Szaboova    
 

Overview of potential stress measures applicable in the agricultural context    
Linda Reissig    
 

Putting the Farmer First: Collaborating to support the physical and behavioral health of people working in agriculture    
Clinton Wilson    
 

Expanding Rural Community Mental Health Systems in Farming Communities: A Case Study in Intergroup Dialogue among Faith Leaders and Behavioral Health Providers    
Morgan Valley, Adrianne Keeney, Cheryl Beseler, Lorann Stallones    
 

The Mental Health of Farm Wives    
Sharon May    
 

Addressing Suicide In Agriculture. Supporting and Preventing the biggest hidden danger today.    
Lucia Slack    
 

Mental Health in Agricultural Contexts: Does the issue lie with farmers or farming?    
Barbara Moore, Noel Richardson, Tomás Russell, Louise McHugh    
 

Expanding access to professional behavioral health services: Lessons learned and recommendations from the U.S.    
Josie Rudolphi, Cheyanne Dierickx    
 

Thinking Landscapes of Support through the Interpretative Frameworks of Wellbeings and Moral Economy    
Mateja Slovenc Grasselli    
 

Publication date: 11 September 2026 | By: I Avelange