2019-11-3: Wimmera farmers to receive mental health support through new telehealth service – Stawell Times & Ararat Advertiser

WIMMERA farmers now have an easier way to access mental health services.

The National Centre for Farmer Health has partnered with online health platform Lysn to help people access farmer health trained psychologists through telehealth and face-to-face consultations.

The service allows rural residents to access psychology services at home, and arrange a confidential one-on-one session with an Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency approved psychologist.

Lysn founder Jonathan King said the service had a 48 hour turnaround and would also offer access to further support information.

“Access to psychologists has often been restrictive for those living in rural and remote communities. This is a concern when you look at the statistics and know that almost every farmer has known someone who has taken their own life,” Dr King said.

Member for Lowan and Shadow Mental Health Minister Emma Kealy said the service would help fill a gap.

“It’s fantastic to see we have enhanced mental health access for farmers in the Wimmera, however it doesn’t negate the need for more face-to-face support services. More needs to be done to close the gaps,” she said.

Ms Kealy said telehealth services gave people a greater feeling of confidentiality.

“Having this option will give people a greater sense of privacy. Walking into a health service can be daunting and is often a barrier for people seeking support in the first place, especially in smaller towns,” she said.

“Some people think there’s always someone worse off than them which means they don’t seek help. We need to keep talking about mental health and break down the stigma.

“Christmas can be a really difficult time for people who may have lost a loved one or feel like they are under financial stress. People need to be encouraged to reach out and use the services that are available to them.”

Statistics show that people living in remote Australia die from suicide at twice the rate of city residents.

In its 680-page interim report released last week, the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health System said years of under-investment led to a system that was “woefully under prepared for current and future mental health challenges”.

The commission said rural communities had poorer access to and lower levels of use of mental health services, and identified an immediate need to provide more support to those living in rural communities.

Dr King said people could access Lysn’s online farmer health psychology services via the National Centre for Farmer Health’s website.

People must have a current mental health care plan to qualify for video consultations, and must live in a rural or remote area.

Consultation prices range from $19 to $139. Medicare rebates are available for people living in remote areas.

If you, or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Help on 1800 55 1800 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467; in emergencies, phone 000.

2019-11-3: Wimmera farmers to receive mental health support through new telehealth service – Stawell Times

2019-12-1: Educate to avoid jab injuries on-farm – Stock Journal

CORRECT TECHNIQUE: Rick Foster, Haven Park, Casterton, Vic, keeps his non-vaccinating hand away from the needle, maintains stability and has a tight race to ensure minimal stock movement. Photo: DAVID RENDELL

EDUCATION is the key to both preventing and treating needle stick injuries, according to the National Centre for Farmer Health, which has warned agricultural workers and doctors to be vigilant.

During workshops the Centre hosted across the country, more than 80 per cent of livestock farmers indicated they had incurred a needle stick injury at some time.

Centre director Sue Brumby said several injected products used in production animals, such as vitamins, vaccines, antibiotics and hormones, could cause significant harm, including loss of fingers, miscarriage and loss of function.

“We take this issue seriously,” Professor Brumby said. “In particular, we find that autumn and spring can be the key periods for injury when high numbers of lambs come in for marking.”

She said the incorrect treatment of needle stick injuries could lead to complications including ongoing pain and inflammation and cause significant economic impact, which was particularly difficult for sole operators.

Rick Foster, Haven Park, Casterton, Vic, said it was important for farmers, agricultural workers and contractors to understand vaccination technique.

“Practice makes perfect.

“Keeping the non-vaccinating hand away from the needle, maintaining stability, adjusting the depth of the needle, not removing safety shrouds from the vaccinator gun and having a tight race or enclosure with minimal stock movement will all reduce injury risk.”

Mr Foster runs an East Friesian-Border Leicester self-replacing flock, alongside a Hereford-Simmental-Angus herd, selling steers and surplus heifers to grassfed beef brands.

He adheres to a strict vaccination program. Ewes receive a pre-lambing vaccination, maternal ewe lambs an OJD shot at marking time and lambs a six-in-one vaccine, a B12 injection and a “booster” vaccination seven weeks post marking.

Any lambs moving to summer crop or high grain feed are re-vaccinated.

Cows are vaccinated pre-calving, while calves are vaccinated, and receive a B12 injection at marking time.

“We go through a lot of needles,” Mr Foster said. “It’s important to get it right.”

Mr Foster chooses to use shorter, quarter-inch gauge needles, which he changes regularly, and only uses top-quality applicators.

“Don’t skimp on your equipment,” he said. “Spend $20 to $30, rather than freebies to save yourself in the long run.”

View full article here: 2019-12-1: Educate to avoid jab injuries on-farm – Stock Journal

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2019-11-29: Media Release – National Centre for Farmer Health partners with LYSN

Improving the health and wellbeing of farmers, their families and communities across Australia.

The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH), who provide leadership to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of farm men and women and their families, has partnered with Lysn, a leading Australian mental health and wellbeing company. The partnership will provide enhanced access to farmer health trained psychologists, continuity of care and dramatically reduced wait times for Australian farmers and their families.

Australian rural communities experience a wide range of challenging circumstances including social and geographical isolation, the impact of drought and other extreme climatic events and diminishing face-to-face services. This has an effect on the health and wellbeing of everyone involved. On average, people in remote Australia die from suicide at twice the rate of city residents, with research consistently showing that farmers are among the highest risk groups at risk of suicide.

These alarming statistics are disturbing when considering that current wait times to see a psychologist can stretch to months. The Lysn and National Centre for Farmer Health partnership will dramatically reduce wait times to just 48 hours, whilst also offering access to vital support information and options to seek help. Lysn’s Founder, Dr Jonathan King further explains:

“Access to psychologists has often been restrictive for those living in rural and remote communities. This is a concern when you look at the statistics and know that almost every farmer has known someone who has taken their own life. It has always been a number one priority of Lysn to improve access to mental health support for all Australians and this partnership is one step closer to achieving that goal.”

This new partnership will see the National Centre for Farmer Health able to offer farming communities access to timely, tailored support services at the click of a button. Access to online psychology services will be possible via the Farmer Health website www.farmerhealth.org.au.

Professor Susan Brumby, Director of the NCFH said “This platform will provide farmers with the ability to access services from their own home and arrange a one-on-one confidential session with a fully qualified Australian AHPRA approved Psychologist who understands the many factors of farming life and work that contribute to mental health challenges.”

Both Lysn and the National Centre for Farmer Health are passionate about improving the wellbeing of Australians and providing care. The new partnership champions a customer-centered approach with secure technology and confidential services. Putting the client in the control seat offers an empowered wellbeing experience. The Lysn and National Centre for Farmer Health partnership is Australian Healthcare compliant and set to improve the access to mental healthcare across the rural farming regions of Australia.

*** ENDS ***

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:

National Centre for Farmer Health:
Cecilia Fitzgerald, Business Development Manager
Ph 03 5551 8533
cecilia.fitzgerald@wdhs.net

Lysn:
Tahlia Crinis, Boss Media
Ph 0420 901 220
tahlia@bossmediapr.com.au

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CENTRE FOR FARMER HEALTH

‘Making a difference to farmer’s lives’

The National Centre for Farmer Health (NCFH) is a partnership between Western District Health Service and Deakin University and is based in Hamilton, Victoria.

Established in 2008, the Centre encompasses university research, service delivery and education that provides leadership in improving the health, wellbeing and safety of farm men and women, their families and rural communities across Australia and globally.

Focusing on prevention and early identification of risk factors associated with farming populations, the NCFH develops timely, appropriate, effective and popular interventions.  Often working in partnership with industry, rural organisations and academia.

The NCFH team includes professionals from the health, agricultural, social sciences and information technology disciplines who have a proven capacity to deliver in the areas of education, training, applied research and community engagement.

ABOUT LYSN

Lysn has aggregated the qualifications and specialties of 315+ psychologists around Australia, providing users with a seamless experience of finding the right psychologist unique to their needs including:

Lysn connects users with Australian Qualified AHPRA Psychologists. The platform offers a simple one price structure:

Since its launch in 2016, Lysn is changing the current paradigm of mental healthcare. Hundreds of Australians have signed up for and had telehealth consultations using Lysn, with registrations and usage growing daily. Lysn is also improving access to mental healthcare for those in regional and rural areas, many of those who otherwise might not have access to mental healthcare.
For more information, head to Lysn.
If you are in crisis, or are experiencing suicidal or homicidal thoughts, contact 000 or your local emergency health service.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE

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2019-10-16: Farmers urged to beware of needle stick injuries at lamb-marking time – Media Release

The National Centre for Farmer Health has warned agricultural workers and regional doctors to be vigilant about needle stick injuries this lamb-marking season.

Centre Director Professor Sue Brumby said needle stick injuries were a common danger during lamb-marking time when farmers, agricultural workers and contractors were administering large numbers of vaccinations to livestock.

During recent workshops undertaken by the National Centre for Farmer Health with livestock farmers across Australia, more than 80 per cent indicated that they had incurred a needle stick injury at some time.

“There are a variety of injected products used in production animals, including vitamins, vaccines, antibiotics and hormones, which can put agricultural workers at risk of needle stick injury. Inadvertently injecting these products can cause significant harm including the loss of fingers, miscarriage and permanent loss of function, so we take this issue seriously,” Professor Brumby said.

“We find that autumn and spring can be the key periods for injury with lambs coming in for marking. So with a good season across some of the southern parts of Australia, now is a timely reminder.”

Professor Brumby said while accidental, the injuries typically had a few things in common: the use of vaccines with mineral oil adjuvants, unpredictability of animals and poor animal restraint, as well as dangerous vaccination technique.

“The resulting injury can then be worsened by inappropriate medical treatment, difficulty finding first aid information on vaccines, and delayed treatment,” she said.

Professor Brumby said effective treatment could also be hindered because little might be known about the adjuvant, the substance added to a vaccine to boost the immune response, and this could be an irritant.
“For example the Johne’s disease vaccine for sheep and vibriosis vaccine for cattle both use mineral oil adjuvants, which are an irritant,” she said.

“If anyone is reporting to a medical professional with a needle stick injury they should bring along the material packaging and material safety data sheet.

“Healthcare professionals should consult the label and manufacturer for appropriate management as the manufacturer holds detailed information about the active ingredients and adjuvants in each product.”

Professor Brumby said education was key to reducing preventable harms like needle stick injuries.

“It’s important to have a good understanding of appropriate vaccination technique, such as keeping the non-vaccinating hand well away from needle, not tenting the skin, maintaining stability, adjusting the depth of the needle, not removing safety shrouds form the vaccinator gun and having a tight race or enclosure with minimal stock movement. This will all reduce injury risk,” she said.

“It’s also important for health workers in agricultural regions to understand these risks, have access to appropriate information to treat any subsequent injuries, and to adhere to best practice in treatment.

“Sometimes farmers can be adamant that no vaccine substance has been transferred to them. However we’ve seen several cases where farmers felt that the needle barely penetrated the skin, but the damage had extended deep into muscle.”

Professor Brumby said delayed or incorrect treatment could lead to complications including ongoing pain, inflammation, and loss of function, that then have a significant economic impact, especially for sole operators.

Health professionals will learn about best practice in treating agricultural needle stick injuries, as well as a range of other important regional and agricultural health issues, through the National Centre for Farmer Health’s 2020 Agricultural Health and Medicine post-graduate course.

The Centre is providing a limited number of scholarships for the 2020 course, valued at $1650, with applications now open for a start date in February. For more information visit www.farmerhealth.org.au.

The National Centre for Farmer Health is a partnership between Western District Health Service and Deakin University, based in the agricultural area of Hamilton, Victoria.

Media contact:
Elise Snashall-Woodhams
Senior Media Coordinator, Deakin University
P: 03 924 68593 M: 0436 409 659
E: e.snashallwoodhams@deakin.edu.au
T: @DeakinMedia

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2019-09-20: Visitors to have a field day at Elmore – Mirage News

Visit us at the 2019 Elmore Field Days!

A range of information as diverse as the industry it represents will be available inside our marquee this year at the Elmore Field Days.

Interactive displays and “TENT Talks” will offer visitors the chance to gain the latest information about farming and rural life.

Grain growers will have the opportunity to talk about agronomy and crop diseases with Agriculture Victoria’s Seasonal Risk Agronomist Dale Boyd and members of the grains team.

Land health, irrigation extension, the new Internet of Things project, biosecurity and livestock electronic identification displays will also form part of the extensive display.

Ongoing dry seasonal conditions support and information will be backed up by free farmer health checks with a team of agri-health professionals from the National Centre for Farmer Health offering field day goers an opportunity to check on their number one asset – their health.

Featuring daily in the “TENT Talks” this year will be:

While he won’t be there in person, Agriculture Victoria Seasonal Risk Agronomist and star of ‘The Break’ Dale Grey will give a virtual presentation with the latest climate update for the region.

The Agriculture Victoria tent is playing host to a number of other groups, including the Department of Environment, Water and Planning (DELWP), the Murray Darling Basin Authority, Minerals Development Victoria, the National Centre for Farmer Health, Coliban Water and the Goulburn Murray Queensland Fruit Fly project.

Agriculture Victoria staff will also be participating in other events at the Elmore Field Days, including Dr Rob Suter who will speak on lameness in sheep at 11 am each day at the site’s shearing shed for the Campaspe Lamb Producers Group.

The Agriculture Victoria display can be found at site #349, corner of 2nd Aveue and Bonn Drive.

View article here: 2019-09-20: Visitors to have a field day at Elmore – Mirage News

Measure to manage: Using cholinesterase assessment to monitor agrichemical exposure in Victorian farmers

Aim: As an occupation, farming is not one that regularly monitors blood cholinesterase (ChE) compared to other occupations such as commercial agrichemical handlers and manufacturers regularly exposed to anticholinesterase chemicals. This study aimed to improve farmer awareness of ChE monitoring, validate accurate assessment in-field, and provide farming and agricultural workers with a link between their ChE activity and their agrichemical use.

Brumby, S., Russell-Green, S., Phillips, T.J., Edwards, J., Cotton, J. L.2019Measure to manage: Using cholinesterase assessment to monitor agrichemical exposure in Victorian farmersMedicine98(49), e17909. Go to page

2019-09-19: Coping with stress on the farm – South Gippsland Sentinel Times

Woolamai dairy farmer Paul Kent stopped by the National Centre for Farmer Health stall at last week’s Dairy Expo for a free health check, chatting to nurse Jeanne Dekker about helpful stress-management strategies.

By Kirra Grimes

THE importance of social connection for wellbeing was highlighted at the Dairy Expo in Korumburra last week, with farmers urged to make time to switch off from work and catch up with a friend or loved one as a priority.
The National Centre for Farmer Health was on site at the Expo providing free health checks last Wednesday and Thursday, with agrihealth professional, registered nurse, and dairy farmer of 20 years Jeanne Dekker emphasising stress management as one of the keys to a long, healthy life, right up there with diet and exercise.
Regularly facing challenging circumstances beyond their control – from milk price fluctuations to unfavourable seasonal conditions – farmers are particularly vulnerable to prolonged stress, Jeanne said, which can have wide reaching impacts on health and wellbeing – from driving up blood pressure to increased risk of depression.
“Having that work-life balance and focusing on the things you can influence are really important, because when we’re overwhelmed with stress, that’s when accidents happen,” Jeanne said.
“A farm’s number one asset is its people, and farmers often put their business first, when they really need to take care of themselves first to put their business in good stead,” she said.
The good news is, there are plenty of simple ways to cope with stress, even for those who find it near impossible to get away from the farm to take time out.
A key part of managing stress in day to day life is making time for your family or friends, Jeanne said.
“Even if it’s just having a cuppa with your spouse, or ringing your neighbour, or even participating in a local industry discussion group where you can catch up and debrief with people who understand what life’s like on a farm – the good and the bad.
“It can be hard, but people need to know it’s ok to share vulnerability,” she said.
Self-care strategies such as relaxation techniques can also be helpful for those who find it difficult to visit a GP.
Some of these strategies are outlined in the NCFH’s ‘Managing Stress on the Farm’ booklet, which has become an “extremely popular” resource since its 2017 release, with around 30,000 copies printed for distribution at events like the Dairy Expo, and demand expected to grow even more as drought becomes “the norm” in many farming regions.

Can you ever be ‘too connected’?
Woolamai dairy farmer Paul Kent agreed with Jeanne on the importance of reaching out, especially during tough times.
“You can always get on the phone and talk to someone. Even when you’re down the back paddock, there’s never a reason not to ask for help if you need it,” he said.
A participant in Gippsland Jersey’s 2017 calendar promoting mental health awareness, Paul said social media could be a great way for isolated farmers to connect with others, but added that it was vital to recognise when social media use may be crossing into ‘unhealthy’ territory.
“It can amp up your stress load,” said Paul, who recently went ‘cold turkey,’ giving up social media for three months.
“It’s more people who have expectations and demands of you. I got to a point where I was waking up every day to hundreds of messages, and it just got overwhelming, so I had to take a step back.”
Paul said he not only “got a lot more work done,” while off social media, he also noticed a marked improvement in his mental health.
He’s back on Facebook now, but only in small doses, favouring quality time with family and his beloved farm dog, Art, over screen time.
“Everyone’s different, but it’s about knowing your own limits,” he said.

Read article: 2019-09-19: Coping with stress on the farm – South Gippsland Sentinel Times

 

2019-09-10: Farmers come to Canberra to warn Government not to rollover on quad bike safety change – Mirage News

The National Farmers’ Federation is warning the Government that lives will continue to be lost if a simple but life-saving change isn’t made to improve quad bike safety.

The NFF took its frustration to Parliament House, Canberra today with the personal stories of farmers injured in quad bike rollovers and a quad bike operator protection device (OPD) demonstration.

In March, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recommended the Government mandate the fitting of OPDs on all new quad bikes within 24 months.

For reasons that are not clear, the Government is stalling on making the transformational change which requires the Assistant Treasurer, Michael Sukkar to do nothing more than make a simple administrative alteration.

NFF President Fiona Simson said the message to the Government was simple: act now to help prevent further tragedy.

“Already this year eight people have died in quad bike rollovers, five since the ACCC report was handed down. Since 2001, the lives of 230 people, including many children, have been cut short.

“Despite these horrifying incidents and the pain and suffering for families and regional communities, the Coalition Government won’t commit to playing its part in protecting farmers from death and life-altering injuries caused by quad bike rollover.

At the demonstration on the lawns of Parliament House, the NFF was supported by the Rural Doctors Association of Australia and the Australian Workers Union. Labor Assistant Treasurer Stephen Jones MP and Greens Agriculture spokesperson Senator Janet Rice also spoke in support.

The Australian Medical Association, the Royal Flying Doctors Service, the Country Women’s Association, the National Rural Health Alliance and the Centre for Farmer Health all support the ACCC’s recommendations.

“If only those standing in the way of the recommendation could visit our rural emergency departments when a farmer, or a farmer’s child, is rushed in with critical injuries due to a quad bike rollover, I’m sure they would change their mind immediately,” RDAA President, Dr Adam Coltzau said.

“These incidents are incredibly traumatic for all involved, and it is made even more traumatic because it is preventable through the fitting of an OPD.”

In July, the NFF led a delegation of farmers to meet with MPs and Senators. These meetings revealed a lack of understanding of OPDs and quad bike operation including that working dogs can’t jump on the back of bikes with OPDs. Slim, the kelpie was at the demonstration to categorically dismiss this concern. OPD manufacturers were also on hand to explain how the devices work when in operation.

Disturbingly there was also a level of misinformation that had allegedly been seeded by sources with a vested interest in seeing the change stifled. Quad manufacturers Honda and Yamaha have previously threatened to withdraw from the Australian market if the change was enacted. Other manufacturers have committed to adopt OPDs.

View Article here: 2019-09-10: Farmers come to Canberra to warn Government not to rollover on quad bike safety change – Mirage News

2019-09-04: Australia first agricultural health resource launched – Queensland Country Life

PHOTO: Tam Phillips, National Centre for Farmer Health, Kate Graham, Western Victoria Primary Health Network researcher, the Naked Farmer Ben Brooksby, Rohan Gunning, Coleraine farmer and Leanne Beagley, Western Vic PHN chief executive at the health pathways launch in Horsham last week.

By: Gregor Heard

AN AUSTRALIA-FIRST rural health resource was launched in Horsham last week by the Western Victoria Primary Health Network (PHN).

The Rural Health chapter of the online Health Pathways resource will provide information that will allow rural-based health professionals in Australia to be better equipped to deal with agriculture-related medical issues.

Chief executive of the Western Vic PHN Leanne Beagley said the chapter was designed to improve health outcomes in agricultural communities by virtue of providing clinicians with resources dedicated to health issues specific to rural Australia.

She said it filled an important knowledge gap.

“The rural health chapter was written when it was realised there was a gap in medical knowledge about the specific issues facing farmers and the rural community more broadly.”

Horsham-based general practitioner Kate Graham was responsible for writing up the chapter.

She said there were a lot of issues in agriculture that were commonplace in the sector but would not necessarily be widely known by the broader medical community.

Issues such as animal related illnesses, including Q fever, are unlikely to be considered as the cause of sickness in an urban based practice but need to be considered by those treating workers in agriculture.

Dr Graham said chemical toxicity and exposure was another area that would not be a prime suspect for illness when patients presented with particular symptoms in the city but needed to be considered in rural areas.

As well as the rural-specific information there have also been additions to other existing pathways such as mental health to provide information specific to rural areas.

The Western Vic PHN has partnered with western Victorian health services, including the Hamilton-based National Centre for Farmer Health to localise the development, implementation and evaluation of the content to the region.

It is hoped following the initial launch of the project in the Wimmera the pathways will then be rolled out across Victoria and then Australia.

Along with specific workplace health risks the chapter also looks at some of the long-term health risks associated with living in rural areas.

Speaking at the launch of the pathway, Tam Phillips of the National Centre for Farmer Health said farming communities have a range of high risk health factors.

“There are unfortunately a lot of chronic risk factors such as obesity, high blood pressure, unhealthy diets that are more prevalent in rural areas, so anything we can do to correct this is fantastic.

“The mortality rate among farmers between 50 and 60 is far too high and anything we can do to help bring that down is worthwhile.”

She said getting farmers to take the initial step to book an appointment was often the hardest.

“Once farmers are alerted to a health problem, be it high cholesterol or whatever they are often really receptive to working on it, as numbers-focused people they like to try and beat their last figure when they next check in.”

Guest speaker at the launch of the pathway Ben Brooksby, a local farmer who has achieved online fame as mental health advocate The Naked Farmer, said it was critical resources were invested into rural health.

He spoke of his battle with anxiety, which left him unable to do the weekly grocery shop and how working with a GP had helped him get the problem under control.

Mr Brooksby said problems such as isolation and difficulties accessing services were some of the biggest problems in terms of health care facing people in rural areas.

He said having a health workforce that better understood the issues faced by those living in the country would help achieve better outcomes.

Rohan Gunning, a farmer from Coleraine, also spoke at the launch.

He said for time-poor farmers a chance to tick off several health checks in one go or when combined with other activities during a visit to a town with health services was a good starting point to ensure health problems did not escalate.

“Something like the free health scans for blood pressure or for eye sight that are offered at field days, such as at Sheep Vention in Hamilton, which is very well attended in my local area, are really worthwhile, you may get people through the doors that wouldn’t dedicate a day going in to see their local doctor.”

Read more: 2019-09-04: Australia first agricultural health resource launched – Queensland Country Life

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Or to access western Victoria’s HealthPathways portal, contact the HealthPathways team:

Email: healthpathways@westvicphn.com.au

Phone: 03 5222 0800

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