VICTORIA’s leading agricultural, health and community groups will partner to deliver ‘Look Over The Farm Gate’ – a mental and physical wellbeing initiative earmarked under Premier Daniel Andrews drought support funding.
The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF), Royal Flying Doctor Service, Country Women’s Association, Country Fire Authority, National Centre for Farmer Health and the Department of Economic Development Jobs Transport and Resources, have come together to address the impact of drought on mental and physical health in rural areas. These organisations will work together on a series of workshops and community events to address mental health, physical health and domestic violence issues in the farming and rural sector.
“With drought taking its toll on Victoria’s farming community as we head into what will be a tough summer; industry organisations within agriculture have identified the crucial need for added mental and physical health support through a targeted awareness campaign,” VFF president Peter Tuohey said.
“The campaign is premised on the fact that farmers have a history of helping farmers through tough times and will help each other through a community led effort.
“We need to improve communication, advocacy and outreach about the reality of mental stress to rural communities, exacerbated by drought and tough seasonal conditions.”
There are five pillars of the campaign:
- Mental Health Awareness: Neighbours helping neighbours tackle mental health
- Physical Health Awareness: To encourage rural communities to recognise and respond to stress before it manifests as symptoms of distress and poor physical health, thus empowering people to look after themselves and “check in on their neighbour”.
- Domestic Violence Awareness: The campaign also recognises there is a high correlation between mental distress and domestic violence. The onset of drought and the financial, emotional and physical toll it plays can have detrimental effect on family relationships.
- Communities supporting each other: Often the most effective support network is the local community network. This program aims to leverage this theory and the goodwill of the many by training a few to influence many more to take care of their family, neighbours, and peers who in turn do the same. The creation of a virtuous cycle.
- Increased service utlisiation: A key success of the program would be an increase in demand for the support services that are available. By doing this this, the stigma about the mental health issues will be further diminished.
“We wish to thank the Premier Daniel Andrews, Agriculture Minister Jaala Pulford and Water Minister Lisa Neville for realising the clear need to support our farming and rural communities through tough times. It is through support like this that the stigma of mental illness can be slowly eroded,” Mr Tuohey said.
