The magnitude of farmers’ suicides in recent decades in India indicates a public health issue of grave concern. underscoring the need for psychosocial support to farmers in distress. This chapter presents the findings of a study that assessed the efficacy of the Vidarbha Psychosocial Support and Care Program (VPSCP) located in Yavatmal district in the state of Maharashtra, the epicentre of farmers’ suicides, to alleviate the psychological consequences of agrarian distress and ensure the delivery of mental health care services. Using a quantitative survey method, data were collected on (a) 119 respondents across 27 villages in two blocks of Yavatmal district on their post-intervention clinical status, and their satisfaction with the services provided by VPSCP and (b) two comparative groups of 135 and 132 respondents from the intervention and non-intervention villages respectively to assess their mental health awareness. The findings revealed more than 50% of the community reporting minimal to nil symptoms at the time of the survey; 79% as highly satisfied with the services of VPSCP; and a significant effect of the intervention on fostering awareness about mental health and illness in the intervention villages in comparison to the non-intervention villages. The findings suggest that VPSCP has been largely effective in providing individualized, community-focused services; ensuring early identification of symptoms; establishing and maintaining supportive relationships between the service users and health care workers; and creating mental health awareness for stigma-reduction.

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Psychosocial Intervention for Farmers’ Distress in Maharashtra: Study of Users’ Satisfaction with Services and Mental Health Awareness in the Community

  • Sunayana Swain,
  • U. Vindhya

摘要

The magnitude of farmers’ suicides in recent decades in India indicates a public health issue of grave concern. underscoring the need for psychosocial support to farmers in distress. This chapter presents the findings of a study that assessed the efficacy of the Vidarbha Psychosocial Support and Care Program (VPSCP) located in Yavatmal district in the state of Maharashtra, the epicentre of farmers’ suicides, to alleviate the psychological consequences of agrarian distress and ensure the delivery of mental health care services. Using a quantitative survey method, data were collected on (a) 119 respondents across 27 villages in two blocks of Yavatmal district on their post-intervention clinical status, and their satisfaction with the services provided by VPSCP and (b) two comparative groups of 135 and 132 respondents from the intervention and non-intervention villages respectively to assess their mental health awareness. The findings revealed more than 50% of the community reporting minimal to nil symptoms at the time of the survey; 79% as highly satisfied with the services of VPSCP; and a significant effect of the intervention on fostering awareness about mental health and illness in the intervention villages in comparison to the non-intervention villages. The findings suggest that VPSCP has been largely effective in providing individualized, community-focused services; ensuring early identification of symptoms; establishing and maintaining supportive relationships between the service users and health care workers; and creating mental health awareness for stigma-reduction.