Main findings of the study
| Farmers n (%) | Controls n (%) | OR | 95% CI | |
| General: | ||||
| Age | 53.8 | 54.6 | ||
| Born in Exeter district | 33 (52) | 17 (26) | 2.98 | 1.41 to 6.2 |
| Employed | 38 (60) | 25 (41) | 2.16 | 1.06 to 4.41 |
| Unemployed | 4 (6) | 11 (17) | 0.48 | 0.17 to 1.39 |
| Retired | 21 (33) | 27 (43) | 0.67 | 0.32 to 1.37 |
| Unmarried and single | 20 (32) | 12 (19) | 1.98 | 0.87 to 4.50 |
| Open verdict | 5 (8) | 2 (3) | 2.63 | 0.49 to 14.09 |
| Left a suicide note | 13 (21) | 26 (41) | 0.37 | 0.17 to 0.82 |
| Cause of death: | ||||
| Firearms | 27 (42) | 7 (11) | 5.62 | 2.21 to 16.35 |
| Car exhaust | 4 (6) | 21 (33) | 0.14 | 0.04 to 0.42 |
| Poisoning | 2 (3) | 11 (17) | 0.15 | 0.03 to 0.73 |
| Hanging | 24 (38) | 16 (25) | 1.97 | 0.91 to 4.26 |
| Submersion | 1 (2) | 1 (2) | 1.00 | 0.06 to 16.35 |
| Cutting | 1 (2) | 2 (3) | 0.44 | 0.04 to 5.57 |
| Other | 5 (8) | 6 (9) | 0.82 | 0.36 to 1.72 |
| Contact with medical services: | ||||
| Saw GP in week before death | 10 (26) | 12 (33) | 0.80 | 0.32 to 2.02 |
| Saw GP in month before death | 20 (53) | 20 (56) | 1.0 | 0.47 to 2.12 |
| Saw GP in 3 months before death | 22 (35) | 26 (41) | 0.47 | 0.18 to 1.19 |
| Previous suicide attempt | 8 (13) | 15 (24) | 1.55 | 0.42 to 5.79 |
| Current inpatient or day patient | 6 (10) | 4 (6) | 0.74 | 0.31 to 1.79 |
| Previous inpatient | 11 (17) | 14 (22) | 0.77 | 0.28 to 2.10 |
| Outpatient or CMHT client | 8 (13) | 10 (16) | 1.15 | 0.55 to 2.39 |
| No previous mental health contact | 42 (67) | 40 (63) | 0.60 | 0.27 to 1.36 |
| Antidepressants prescribed before death | 14 (22) | 16 (25) | 0.84 | 0.37 to 1.91 |
CMHT=community mental health team.