Hundreds of people in farming communities around the country have been motivated to think about their own support networks and where they fit in the lives of their friends, family and neighbours.
This was the goal of the Farmer Mates Mental Health Initiative field day program featuring National Ambassador Brad Hogg’s musings on his international cricketing career, mental health insights and connection to his rural upbringing.
Throughout August, GPA representatives and Mr Hogg were hosted by a number of industry groups and companies at the Eyre Peninsula Field Days in South Australia, AgQuip in New South Wales and the Dowerin Machinery Field Days in Western Australia.
Brad said the past few weeks had given him opportunities to make real connections and plant the seeds for sustainable rural communities into the future.
“The big take home message for everyone is that when you have a little bit of doubt about how you’re travelling, that’s when you need to reach out,” he said.
“Your networks are there for you and it takes one conversation with your friend, partner or even your agronomist to give you support, but it's also about being that support for the people around you as well.
“We’re working on balancing the emotional and mental health aspects of this conversation by empowering people to think about what a support network can look like for hard times, but also for when times are good.”
He reflected that over the past three years of the FMMH program his conversations had progressed from initially broaching the subject of mental health as an issue, to then talking about ways to look after mental health and wellbeing and now towards how support networks are vital for looking after each other.
GPA Chair Barry Large said hundreds of people were reached by the program over the past few weeks and the message would spread even further when people went home and talked to their friends and family.
“Connecting people with a topic that isn’t always easy to talk about by taking a light-hearted and social approach has been the real success of this program,” he said.
“We would not be able to do this without the support of our sponsors Nufarm, Rural Aid, Lifeline and GrainGrowers.”
GPA is now looking to November, with plans to bring together key stakeholders for a national symposium in Canberra, aimed at building on the program’s leadership and awareness.
“There’s a lot of good people and organisations doing good things and we want to ensure people understand where to go to, to access the services and tools they need, when they need it,” Mr Large said.
“We welcome other farming groups and industry members reaching out to see how they can support what we’re doing.”
IMPORTANT RESOURCES
· Rural Aid’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Team HERE
· GPA’s Farmer Mates Mental Health initiative HERE
· Lifeline’s 24/7 telephone crisis support service is available on 13 11 14
· Mental Health and Wellbeing Team intake line 1300 17 55 94 - Head Office 1300 327 624
ENDS
Further Information:
GPA Chair Barry Large: 0427 549 023
GPA Executive Officer Rachael Oxborrow: 0416 705 193
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