Community engaged scholarship in a mental health context: Challenges, opportunities, and best practice in dairy communities

Jacqueline Wegley; Whitney Stone; Lauren Chase; Taylor Foerster

doi:10.37433/aad.v7i4.713

Authors

Jacqueline Wegley Kansas State University, USA
Whitney Stone Oregon State University, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3090-5751
Lauren Chase Oregon State University, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6532-5779
Taylor Foerster Oregon State University, USA https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5155-1422

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.37433/aad.v7i4.713

Keywords:

community engaged scholarship, rural community engagement, mental health programming, SDG 3: Good Heath and Well-being

Abstract

Working with livestock is stressful due to the constant, around-the-clock care of animals, finances, and stressors related to the public perception of animal agriculture. Community engaged scholarship is a critical method utilized in public health research, yet limited information is known about the best way to enter farming communities related to CES. This study explored how practitioners engage with dairy communities to develop strategies and solutions related to health, particularly mental health initiatives and programming. Six individuals who have worked in the United States (U.S.) and some international researchers participated in semi-structured interviews about their approach to community-engaged scholarship focused on mental health within agriculture, and engagement strategies with participants and communities. Participants emphasized the importance of developing relationships and trust with community partnerships as well as the use of storytelling and creative research methods to engage individuals. Funding remained a challenge for CES while communicating to communities the scientific process was identified as an opportunity to explain research timelines and lack of instant changes from research. Future research should continue to explore CES approaches within this area and extend beyond dairy producers to a larger livestock demographic.

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