Farmer Health eNews October 2016
Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health
- 2017 HMF701 Agricultural Health & Medicine – Applications & Scholarships are OPEN!
- Run 4 Farmer Health – Sunday 16th October – We made it to 100! Lets make 110!
-
Expect more at Elmore—FREE farmer health checks at Elmore! Visit us! 4-6 October Site 497
-
Wellness Wednesday Topics
Sign up to receive eNews straight to your inbox! Click here
2016-10-1: Directors undertake health checks at Expo – Devondale Murray Goulburn
2016-09-22: Rural health on agenda during Henty Machinery Field Days – The Border Mail
Health has been a common topic around the Henty Machinery Field Days this year – right up there with the weather, prices and a super spring.
Iconic Australian sporting figure David Foster was happy to talk about health, especially men’s health, from his post at an oil company stand.
Foster said Australian men, especially those over 40, needed to get regular health checks – an annual grease and oil change and tune-up for the body.
“When I do my wood chop I ask people over 40 years of age if they go for a regular checkup,” Foster said.
“My dad died at 61, he never went to the doctor. It is important for us guys to look after ourselves and we should talk about it.”
Mental Health communicator Mathew Johnstone was a speaker at The Stump at the Field Days on Wednesday, and was also the guest speaker at the official lunch.
Mr Johnstone said the stigma of mental health must be broken so it was as accepted as other illnesses, or a broken leg.
“It’s all about starting the conversation because a lot of people suffer unnecessarily and I think primarily in rural communities, who are not only isolated by the land but also by the culture,” he says.
“If you’re in trouble, never be afraid to stick your hand up and ask for help because the only shame is that you’re going to miss out on life.”
This is a positive sign for rural communities as NSW prepares for Mental Health Month in October.
Dairy Australia deputy chair Simone Jolliffe said after officially opening the Field Days on Tuesday many dairy farmers were under immense pressure and said it was clear neighbours were looking out for each other emotionally.
It is where programs such as “Look Over the Farm Gate” – supported by the Victorian Farmers Federation, Royal Flying Doctors Service Victoria, Country Fire Authority, Country Women’s Association, National Centre for Farmer Health and the Victorian Government – play such an important role.
Burrumbuttock Hay Runners organiser Brendan Farrell hears stories of emotional hardship on the land every day.
He helps by delivering food hampers and stockfeed but also taking a phone call at 11pm from someone who just needs to talk.
And starting that conversation about health can be the best medicine for our wellbeing in the long term.
Read more: 2016-09-22: Rural health on agenda during Henty Machinery Field Days – The Border Mail
2016-09-19 Gippsland Jersey milk hits local shelves – Supporting the Ripple Effect
Gippslanders have been urged to act as the unofficial sales team for new local farmer-owned and operated milk brand, Gippsland Jersey.
Gippsland Jersey was officially launched at the Warragul Farmers’ Market on Saturday, with customers queuing to buy a two litre bottle of the locally produced full cream milk.
More than 1700 litres were sold on the day.
The brainchild of fourth generation Jindivick dairy farmer Steve Ronalds and Warragul public relations specialist and daughter of a dairy farmer, Sallie Jones, Gippsland Jersey aims to provide an improved farm-gate price to farmers by bypassing major milk purchasers.
But according to Mr Ronalds, the brand now needs the support of the Gippsland community to succeed.
“The response so far has been overwhelming and we have been absolutely blown away by the support we have received. Now we need that support to translate into sales so we can bring other farmers on board to supply us and further support the Gippsland dairy industry,” Mr Ronalds said.
“We are a two-person team. We don’t have a sales department and we’re competing against the major milk brands and supermarket chains. What we need is for the Gippsland community to not only buy our milk, but to ask their local cafes, restaurants, general stores, and independent supermarkets to stock Gippsland Jersey as well.”
With the slogan, ‘Good for farmers, good for you’, Ms Jones said Gippsland Jersey answered the question many people had about which milk to buy in order to best support local farmers directly.
“The dairy crisis has hit Gippsland farmers hard and we want to do what we can to support them,” Ms Jones said.
“That is why we’ve teamed up with The Ripple Effect – a program to reduce stigma about suicide – by featuring it on the back of our labels.
“The Ripple Effect is funded by beyondblue and is about farmers helping farmers beat rural suicide.”
From Monday, Gippsland Jersey milk will be sold at IGA Neerim South, Bunyip IGA, IGA Plus Liquor Trafalgar, Foster IGA, Meeniyan IGA and Heyfield IGA.
Henry Street Foodworks in Traralgon will also stock Gippsland Jersey, and many other local businesses have also committed to using and selling the milk.
Anyone who would like to stock Gippsland Jersey should email orders@cheffields.com.au or phone 1300 854 299.
Farmer Health eNews September 2016
Find out all the latest from the National Centre for Farmer Health
-
Run 4 Farmer Health – Sunday 16th October – LETS MAKE 100 RUNNERS!
-
Supporting the health and wellbeing of Dairy Farmers
- In North East Victoria
- South Gippsland Dairy Expo – 28/29 September
- Elmore Field Days – 4/5/6 October with Rural Bank
- Visit our Support Page for useful links and our free “Managing Stress on the Farm” book
-
Wellness Wednesday Topics
Initial destination hospital of paediatric prehospital patients in rural Victoria
The objective of this present study was to describe the initial destination hospital of paediatric patients transported by Ambulance Victoria paramedics within the South Western area of Victoria to determine the proportion of patients that bypassed their closest hospital.
Ageing, chronic disease and injury: a study in western Victoria (Australia)
An increasing burden of chronic disease and associated health service delivery is expected due to the ageing Australian population. Injuries also affect health and wellbeing and have a long-term impact on health service utilisation. There is a lack of comprehensive data on disease and injury in rural and regional areas of Australia. The
aim of the Ageing, Chronic Disease and Injury study is to compile data from various sources to better describe the patterns of chronic disease and injury across western Victoria.
Research protocol for a digital intervention to reduce stigma among males with a personal experience of suicide in the Australian farming community
Australian farming communities have up to twice the suicide rate of the general population. Men, particularly, demonstrate debilitating self- and perceived-stigma associated with an experience of suicide. The Ripple Effect is aimed to reduce suicide stigma within the social, cultural, geographical and psychological contexts in which it occurs.
2016-08-16: Wyche Farmers Wiser on Health – The Buloke Times
2016-08-19: Wycheproof farmers attend health workshop – Stock and Land
Farmers from Wycheproof recently took part in a workshop designed to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of farm families.
Sustainable Farm Families is an initiative by the National Centre for Farmer Health, Hamilton, which covers areas such as cardiovascular disease, farm safety, diabetes, stress, nutrition, and men and women’s health.
It aims to identify and track farming health indicators, and include these in farm management quality assurance processes.
The program is delivered in partnership with Agriculture Victoria and the Drought Support Package, East Wimmera Health Service, Wycheproof Resource Centre and Birchip Cropping Group (BCG).
BCG project manager Louisa Ferrier said that 10 farmers from Wycheproof attended the workshop in late July after they were first assessed by a local health professional.
“At the conclusion of the workshop, many participants expressed how surprised they were at how much they took away from it and how much it has made them think,” Ms Ferrier said.
Trevor Allan, Wycheproof, a farmer who attended the two-day workshop, said it was worth the time spent.
“I was surprised by how much was packed into the workshop and hope others take up the opportunity if it comes up in the region in the future,” Mr Allan said.
Participants from Wycheproof will return to complete another workshop in February 2017.
Those identified as high-risk will be referred to for follow up by appropriate health professionals.
Other workshops will be held in Yaapeet on September 6, and in Stanhope and Edenhope on yet to be determined dates.
For more information, visit the National Centre for Farmer Health.
To view article: 2016-08-19: Wycheproof farmers attend health workshop – Stock and Land
2016-08-06: Focus on Health – Hamilton Spectator Farming Focus
By Rick Koenig
2016-08-01: Ripple effect through rural communities – Gannawarra Times
By Shelby Garlick
NESTLED away on an 800-hectare farm near the banks of the Murray River, outside the small farming town of Barham, is an avocado farm taking Melbourne’s café scene by storm.
Katrina Myers, along with her husband and young family, lovingly tend to the same paddocks that four generations of Katrina’s family have cared for before them.
If you’ve been to Melbourne’s popular cafe Top Paddock, and sampled their famous bacon and eggs with mashed avocado, you’ve probably had one of her delicious ‘Barham avos’.
But getting her avocados from paddock to plate hasn’t been without its struggles for Katrina.
At a young age she lost her father to suicide. And to her, mental health is everything.
“His death has affected me throughout my life in various ways and probably more as an adult and as a mother than it did at the time,” she says.
“There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t miss him and wonder what things would be like if he was here.”
Katrina’s story isn’t a stand-alone story and reflects the widespread problem of mental health in rural areas.
Men in remote areas are 2.6 times more likely to end their lives by suicide than those in metropolitan areas, according to a report by the Australian Institute for Health and Welfare.
Recently dairy farmers were thrown into the spotlight after a battle erupted over the price of milk.
Most news reports discussed the financial ramifications of the price drop, but the focus then shifted towards the effect it was having on their mental health.
Dairy farmer, Wayne Johnson, who was interviewed on Channel 10’s The Project, said on air: “The news really hit me when I finally caught up with my wife and she looked straight at me and said, ‘if it wasn’t for me and the children, she’d probably kill herself.’ ”
Katrina said: “People forget the huge strain on women who are supporting men who have depression and I would certainly like to see more support for women.
“The focus definitely tends to be on men but I feel there are many women who are coping with some form of mental illness, whether their own battles or from supporting their partners.”
Mental health among people from rural areas isn’t a new issue.
During the 1980s and ’90s a farmer died by suicide every four days, which amounted to 92 suicides per year, according to a 2002 report from the University of Sydney.
Dr Samara McPhedran, a senior research fellow at Griffith University, said farmer suicide rates have come down, but the issue hasn’t been studied enough for medical professionals to have a clear understanding.
“To effectively prevent farmer suicides it is vital to acknowledge the complex set of challenges farmers face,” says Dr McPhedran.
George Bender, a well-known anti-coal seam gas farmer in Queensland, died by suicide in October last year.
Bender’s suicide has been blamed by his family on his decade-long fight to keep Origin Energy off his 2000-acre farm.
Dr McPhedran says too often people assume there is a clear connection between natural disasters, drought and farmer suicide.
“There are many individual and contextual circumstances, both environmental and psychosocial stressors associated with farmer suicide,” says Dr McPhedran.
Prolonged drought, natural disasters, financial hardship, pricing of agricultural commodities and a shift away from rural industries, primary production policy changes and decreasing political representation can all be factors.
Studies have found farmers have a higher likelihood of experiencing social isolation due to long working hours and geographic remoteness.
Katrina had always wanted to get involved with advocating for mental health and for prevention and a holistic approach to treatment.
When she heard about The Ripple Effect project, she applied to be on the steering committee.
The Ripple Effect is an online intervention program designed to investigate what works to reduce the stigma among males from the farming community who have been affected by suicide.
To view full article: 2016-08-01: Ripple effect through rural communities – Gannawarra Times