The impact of external risk factors on the mental health of rural farmers in North-Central, Nigeria

Mental health is a growing occupational and public health issue among Nigerian farmers, particularly in north-central Nigeria, where external risk factors like herderfarmer conflict and climate change significantly impact the mental well-being of rural farmers. Despite their key role in the agricultural economy, these farmers are often disregarded in mental health research, which has mostly concentrated on formal job sectors. This neglect can lead to reduced agricultural productivity and negatively affecting the national economy. Consequently, this study aims to document how these factors impact the overall mental well-being of rural farmers in north-central Nigeria. The proposed theoretical framework is based on self-determination theory, focusing on autonomy, competence, and relatedness. To objectively examine this idea, 351 rural farmers completed a structured survey and Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) was utilized to conduct the analysis. Furthermore, the findings shows that climate change and herder-farmer conflicts have a significant negative impact on mental health, while pesticide exposure has no significant effect. The study suggests integrating mental health care into agricultural extension services to improve outcomes for the agricultural industry