The case for rural community-based suicide prevention within agricultural extension

Rural communities are faced with unique social and geographical challenges which impact mental health and suicidality. Prevention efforts must support the essential resource in agricultural production: the people. Community-based suicide prevention is a social driver of change, enabling rural communities to leverage existing strengths and resources. This paper will reflect on the author's experiences evaluating recent suicide prevention programs implemented in Tasmania and research drawing on professional and lived experience perspectives across Australia. The discussion shows how community-based suicide prevention can be used to build the capacity of and re-purpose roles already in the community linked to agricultural extension. Community-based efforts are a means to align with, coordinate and empower extensionists to be involved with localised prevention efforts. This approach can support farmers and producers, communities, and industries to impact the complex factors contributing to increased suicide risk and the ripple effects widely felt across rural communities.