"We're All in This Together": Farmers' Reactions to the Farmer Suicide Crisis.

Farmer suicide rates continue to increase, with levels being 1.5 times higher than the national rate. This has led agricultural and public health groups to craft and distribute farm stress and suicide messages to help farmers. However, suicide rates remain at critical levels indicating that there may be a disconnect between existing efforts and farmer sensemaking of the crisis. Utilizing the Theory of Memorable Messages (ToMM), this study explored how farmers are reacting to messages and conversations about the farmer suicide crisis. Interviews with 25 participants found most had heard about farmer suicide concerns. When asked about their memorable conversations, farmers reflected a complex sensemaking process that included themes of memorable conversation types ranging from externalization to acceptance and message themes oriented around concern for self and others within these conversation types. Overall, most farmers externalized the risk of suicide to other farmers. However, even though participants did not see themselves at risk, their responses often showed deep concern for helping other farmers. These results are discussed in light of sensemaking and memorable conversations, with practical implications for future messaging efforts around farmer suicide.

The Task and Relational Dimensions of Online Social Support.

Online support groups are attractive to individuals suffering from various types of mental and physical illness due to their accessibility, convenience, and comfort level. Individuals coping with depression, in particular, may seek social support online to avoid the stigma that accompanies face-to-face support groups. We explored how task and relational messages created social support in online depression support groups using Cutrona and Suhr's social support coding scheme and Bales's Interaction Process Analysis coding scheme. A content analysis revealed emotional support as the most common type of social support within the group, although the majority of messages were task rather than relational. Informational support consisted primarily of task messages, whereas network and esteem support were primarily relational messages. Specific types of task and relational messages were associated with different support types. Results indicate task messages dominated online depression support groups, suggesting the individuals who participate in these groups are interested in solving problems but may also experience emotional support when their uncertainty is reduced via task messages.