Farmer Health eNews October 2018
Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health
- Farmer Needlestick Injuries – Risk & recommended treatment
- HMF701 Graduates making a difference
- Run 4 Farmer Health – We want you in our team!
- NCFH 2018 Conference wrap-up
- Wellness Wednesday
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GMHBA – supporting the mental health of our farmers
GMHBA is proud to partner with the National Centre for Farmer Health on some key initiatives designed to increase mental health awareness amongst young people in rural areas, who can often find it difficult to seek and source help.
Read more:https://bit.ly/2O1S9Tu
2018-09-23: Helping break down barriers around mental health issues – Farming Focus, The Hamilton Spectator
2018-9-13: Lack of access taking toll on youth mental health, study shows – The Warrnambool Standard
A lack of access to services is taking a toll on the mental well-being of young people in rural and regional areas, a new study shows.
Hamilton-based National Centre for Farmer Health teamed with VicHealth and CSIRO’s Data61 on the study, which found a lack of mental health services, transport, reliable internet, education and jobs were creating a mental well-being gap between young people in rural areas compared with their metropolitan counterparts.
The data showed that the rates of deaths from suicide and self-harm among young Victorians living in the bush has risen from 11 in 100,000 in 2012 to 13 in 100,000 in 2016. People in regional areas were also more likely to use alcohol, cannabis and methamphetamines than those in the city.
National Centre for Farmer Health director Susan Brumby said it was critical that young Victorians also had access to services to maintain and improve their mental well-being.
“It’s distressing to see that young people in our regions aren’t getting the support they need and this lack of opportunities and services is a cause of higher rates of suicide and self-harm,” she said.
“This report shows there are not enough mental health professionals in the bush – the majority of psychiatrists and psychologists are city-based.
“Other issues like stigma, perceived and actual lack of confidentiality and anonymity, and services failing to understand issues facing regional and rural Victorians are all barriers to young people getting the care and support they need and deserve.”
VicHealth chief executive officer Jerril Rechter said while access in rural areas was an issue, community links were often stronger.
“Young people in regional and rural communities have identified one of the things they like most about their community is how people come together during difficult times like drought or fires,” she said.
“The report shows being part of a community group, like a sports club has great benefits for the health and well-being of young people in regional and rural communities.”
CSIRO’s Data61 senior research consultant Claire Naughtin said the report highlighted the need to improve technology access in regional areas to give young people better access to services, education and employment opportunities.
“Young people need reliable access to the internet,” Dr Naughtin said.
- If you or someone you know needs help, call Lifeline on 13 11 14.
View article here: 2018-9-13: Lack of access taking toll on youth mental health, study shows – The Warrnambool Standard
2018-09-10: From Inside the Farm Gate – Jackie Elliott – Graziher Magazine Spring 2018
Farmer Health eNews September 2018
Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health
- Run 4 Farmer Health – The coundown is on!
- HMF701 Scholarships are open
- Digital Storytelling Workshop
- Wellness Wednesday
Do you want to receive our eNews?
2018-08-22: National Centre for Farmer’s Health consultant Olivia Pronk talks with farmers at AgQuip – The Northern Daily Leader
Article: Madeline LInk, Photo: Peter Hardin
EVERY hour on the hour, registered nurse Olivia Pronk changes her topic.
Talking all things farmer’s health at AgQuip, The Leader met with the National Centre for Farmer’s Health consultant around 2pm, when her focus was emotional wellbeing.
“I’m just allowing them to talk, sometimes they do, sometimes they don’t,” she said.
“But it’s the ones that aren’t talking that are the real concern to me.”
If the family isn’t travelling well, the young people are feeling the burden Ms Pronk said.
… it’s the ones that aren’t talking that are the real concern to me.
Olivia Pronk
“I’ve made a point of telling them where to get help if they need to, giving them ideas about how to walk away from it and take a break if they’re struggling.”
And, Ms Pronk isn’t just talking to those that are suffering – she’s speaking with family members that aren’t sure how to approach a conversation with a loved one they’re concerned about.
With a session in The Seminar Room, an AgQuip first for not-for-profit organisations, a lot of farmers are finding it easier to talk with health care professionals one-on-one, Ms Pronk said.
“It’s pretty personal, and it’s not always easy to get up in front of a group of people and say you’re struggling with your problems,” she said.
“Whereas if you get them one-on-one it’s easier for them to talk.”
On Wednesday, she spoke with at least 100 people about anything from respiratory issues on the farm to needlestick injuries during vaccinations.
One of the biggest conversation topics was lung problems as a result of airborne chemicals.
“I’ve spoken a lot about lung problems and respiratory issues, when people work with chemicals they wear a dust mask and think that will protect them as far as airborne chemicals, it won’t,” Ms Pronk said.
“The other thing is vaccination injuries, we’re talking about being aware of the product that’s in the vaccine.
“The vaccine is safe for people but it’s whether the carrier is water or oil, if it’s oil they need to get proper medical help.”
The National Centre for Farmer’s Health is visiting field days across Australia speak about health issues.
What Happens to the Farm? Australian Farmers’ Experiences after a Serious Farm Injury
To investigate the experiences of farmers on returning to farming following a serious farm-related injury.
Cholinesterase research outreach project (CROP): point of care cholinesterase measurement in an Australian agricultural community
Australian farmers are routinely exposed to a wide variety of agrichemicals, including herbicides and insecticides. Organophosphate (OP) insecticides are widely used for agricultural production, horticulture and animal husbandry practices. Symptoms of OP toxicity are the results of inhibition of the enzyme acetylcholinesterase (AChE) which is found in many types of conducting tissue in human bodies such as nerve and muscle, central and peripheral tissues, motor and sensory fibres. Cholinesterase can be measured in red blood cells/erythrocytes (AChE) and plasma (PChE). This study aims to explore integration of AChE monitoring into routine health checks for those at risk and also to examine any association between AChE activity and agrichemical use in a Victorian farming community in Australia.
Online assessment of suicide stigma, literacy and effect in Australia’s rural farming community
In Australia, farming populations have been identified as having higher rates of suicide, in comparison to metropolitan, rural and regional communities. The reasons for this are unclear although stigma is considered a risk factor. This study was designed to understand the role of suicide stigma and suicide literacy and the relationship
between these.
2018-08-16: Health checks bring in farmers – Eyre Peninsula Tribune
Eddie Hughes gets his health check from Tam Phillips.
Article by: Kathrine Catanzariti
Farmers at the Eyre Peninsula Field Days are making the most of the free health checks available.
National Centre of Farmer Health, along with Rural Bank, have been at the event providing the checks for farmers to make sure they keep an eye on their health.
“It’s a great way for farmers to get access to health and have a social day out,” Ms Phillips said.
“Farmers, men and women, don’t prioritise themselves as their number one farming asset.”
Member for Giles Eddie Hughes had his own health checked while visiting the Eyre Peninsula Field Days on Thursday.
“It’s important for everyone to get checked, the reward can be significant,” he said.
The National Centre for Farmer Health is located at site 185, and checks only take 20 minutes.
Read more: 2018-08-16: Health checks bring in farmers – Eyre Peninsula Tribune
2018-8-10: A healthy farming family means a healthly farming business – The Weekly Times
That’s the key message of the Sustainable Farm Families course run by the National Centre for Farmer Health and Agriculture Victoria.
A group of farming families recently participated in the course at Horsham’s Grains Innovation Park, thanks to the Wimmera Farming Network.
National Centre for Farmer Health research fellow Alison Kennedy said the award-winning program helped not only the farmer, but the farming business.
“The program covers a wide range of topics that are a real part of the lives of farming families, everything from physical and mental health, health education, and a health assessment,” Dr Kennedy said.
“And because the programs are run across a number of workshops, people can track their health over time, and set personal goals around their personal health.
If you are a farmer or other agricultural worker and are interested in participating in a Sustainable Farm Families program, contact Tracey Hatherell at tracey.hatherell.wdhs.net or phone (03) 5551 8588.
Read more: 2018-8-10: A healthy farming family means a healthly farming business – The Weekly Times