STRESS and farming share similarities in their nature and impact. Both involve long-term challenges, potential for burnout, and the need for adaptation and resilience.
Like a farmer who must manage unpredictable weather, financial instability, and demanding workloads, individuals experiencing stress and anxiety grapple with various stressors and their consequences.
Farming and other high stress situations can lead to physical and mental health issues if not managed effectively.
But help is at hand.
If you weren’t milking cows last Thursday night, waiting for the new season price to come out, feeding out on dry paddocks, on the phone putting in a stock-water order or doing the accounts; you might have been able to attend the screening of ‘Just A Farmer’ and the panel discussion about farmers’ mental health that followed.
Which is just the point isn’t it…
You’ve got to get out more!
About 200-plus farmers, men and women, took the opportunity presented by the Bass Coast Shire Council, the Victorian Farmers Federation and Landcare to come along, watch what is a pretty confronting film, it must be said, and take part in lively discussion afterwards, both panel-led on the stage and in the foyer of the Wonthaggi Union Theatre over sandwiches, cakes, tea and coffee.
It was a very good initiative by the shire and their partners and aside from the work they do through the Bass Coast Rural Engagement Group (which is looking for members, especially young farmers), their long-standing partnership with Landcare, their rural land management rates rebate opportunity and rate differential; it’s an indication the shire should probably be doing more in the agriculture space.
Approximately 76 per cent of the land in Bass Coast is used for agricultural purposes. Agriculture contributes over $200 million to the Bass Coast economy through a combination of traditional farming including dairy and meat production plus processing, as well as agricultural boutique enterprises including venison, olives, wine, and cheese to name a few.
And they might start by adding better, locally-based community mental health services to their Federal and State Government advocacy under the heading of ‘Primary Prevention’ alongside its other worthy call for more funding to support family violence prevention strategies.
One of the panel members was Phillip Island farmer Luke Soussa, who acknowledged that while he hasn’t had much direct experience with a mental health crisis, he was aware of the stresses that most farmers have to deal with on an almost daily basis.
“I’m a member of the shire’s Rural Engagement Group, and just a shout out there, they could do with a few more members, but they asked me to along and provide the farmers’ perspective,” said Luke.
Another panel member was author and Bass Coast emergency management team leader Paul Milne.
In his debut book, The Urgent Connection, Milne offers an unfiltered reflection on trauma, emotional shutdown, and what it truly means to reclaim one's identity after years of compartmentalising pain. The book draws from his personal and professional experience policing remote Indigenous communities, leading emergency responses, confronting grief and suicide, and surviving his own mental health reckoning to explore the profound and often unseen toll of service work.
To purchase the book go to: https://paulmilne.com.au/
Speaking before the start of the movie, and the panel discussion facilitated by shire CEO Greg Box, Bass Coast Mayor Cr Rochelle Halstead said she empathised with the pressures faced by farmers.
“I was brought up on a dairy farm and my brother continues to run the farm up in the Kiewa. I’m aware of the isolation, financial stress, expectations and the unspoken stresses that go on.
“I’m away from that now but I’m always conscious that behind every farmgate is a person and a family facing the daily challenges involved.”
Just a Farmer is a film that explores the impact of suicide on a rural Australian families. Set in the picturesque rural Victoria, the film addresses significant mental health challenges faced by farming communities and the importance of community support.
The panel discussion which followed offered valuable insights into mental health issues specific to regional and rural settings and provided information on available support resources.
Among them is the Rural Financial Counselling Service Gippsland, now known as NEX Business Farming Wellness. They provide our agricultural industries and small rural businesses with free, confidential and independent planning and support services. Call 1300 045 747 to discuss how they can help or head to their new website at https://www.nexsolutions.org.au/
“It’s been an especially dry season, especially in South and West Gippsland and we’re seeing the impact of that at the moment,” said Amy Stark of NEX.
“A lot of it comes down to financial pressure but we offer wellness support as well. Rural Financial Counselling Service Gippsland has changed its name to NEX because we’ve expanded to providing support to small business in rural areas as well.”
For those feeling the pinch, financially or personally, help is at hand.
Talk to someone. Whether it’s you or you notice a friend that’s struggling, talk to someone about it. Health professionals have strategies that really work. Start by booking an appointment with your GP.
If you want to help someone else but don’t know where to start, a community-based initiative called ‘Taking Stock’ is a good starting point at https://www.takingstock.community/
There you’ll find a section called: “Are you bogged mate?”
“If you’re feeling bogged or you’re trying to pull out a mate who’s stuck in the mud, they can get you connected with the right help and offer a few suggestions for starting the conversation.
Taking Stock, a free online wellbeing and suicide prevention tool designed by and for Australia’s farmers, is now available.
Suicide rates among farmers in Australia is up to 94% higher than non-farmers. On average, one farmer dies by suicide every 10 days.
Taking Stock hosts multiple resources including films, interviews and podcasts of farmer experiences, information about how to set up a local suicide prevention group, and how to connect and engage with communities for early approaches to suicide prevention.
Taking Stock was the final stage of a three-year research project led by the University of South Australia - Tailoring Suicide Prevention Strategies for Men in Farming Occupations.
The University worked with three grassroots community groups—SOS Yorkes in South Australia, Riverina Bluebell in New South Wales, and Mellow in the Yellow (previously Live Rural) in Victoria—to capture local knowledge and lived experience.
More information about Taking Stock is available here https://www.takingstock.community/
If you need immediate assistance call Triple 000 but if you would like to talk through some personal issues you can also contact:
LIFELINE: 131114 or https://www.lifeline.org.au/
Beyond Blue: https://www.beyondblue.org.au/
Standbysupport after suicide at https://standbysupport.com.au/
