With the support of the Black Dog Institute, the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program, the Department of Primary Industries and Hunter New England Area Health, I’ve just been on a 3-day road trip doing 4 mental health and resilience talks to the communities of Moree and Narribri in NSW ending up and flying out of Tamworth. These poor communities have gone through nearly 9 years of drought. Finally they get a break with decent rain, crops and stock are looking good and then it’s all decimated with huge floods only just a few weeks ago. These poor people feel, rightfully – they just can’t win. Thankfully the community, local government and mental health support and resolve is strong.
I have to say that you never fully appreciate the extent of a natural disaster till you’re standing there on the ground; where as when you watch it on TV, as soon as the report ends or channels change it is out of sight, out of mind. When you see a rugby post bent over with tree branches wrapped around the top or vast fields of crops totally ruined you get an idea how big these events are.
I did two talks at Moree and Narribri High Schools, they drove in bus loads of teenagers from neighboring towns, in all there were over 550 kids + teachers and staff. Then in the evenings I did talks for the local community. I have to say the local attitude towards mental health is really impressive; people really want the information, understanding and the necessary tools to build mental fortitude. I truly believe 10 years ago I would have been speaking in empty halls.
My Dad was a farmer and knowing him and his mates, not only are farmers isolated by the land, they are isolated by the culture, they are not the best at asking or seeking help in times of difficulty – ‘she’ll be right’ is the catch cry said by many. Years ago someone said to me, ‘we need to look after our farmers because they are the ones that feed us’. It was surprisingly obvious statement but one I’d never fully contemplated because probably like most of us, I’d taken farmers for granted.
Not so anymore.
