Ripple Effect Postcards to give insight into rural suicide
Ripple Effect Postcards to give insight into rural suicide
Tuesday 24 November, 2015
The Ripple Effect, a collaborative digital project spearheaded by farmers, health professionals and advocacy groups is inviting farmers to share their personal stories of suicide through a unique postcard initiative.
Farmers are being invited to provide input about their personal experiences of suicide in the Ripple Effect—a project where farmers are helping farmers beat rural suicide.
Victorian Farmer Nick Shady knows all too well the need for a new approach to dealing with the Ripple Effect of mental illness in rural communities.
“I know there’s a lot of talk about how rural men don’t open up and can’t open up and don’t see a forum where they can. That’s the hard part; how do we reach people who feel like that, before it’s too late,” Nick said.
Nick is now a member of the Ripple Effect Steering Group, a project he feels passionate about.
“We believe that by involving farming communities we can help turn the negative ripple of suicide into a positive ripple of support. To get this ripple started, we are calling on farmers to tell their story as a way to help others in similar circumstances.”
Katrina Myers, from Barham in New South Wales shares this sentiment.
“I’ve seen so many examples of where people who have personal lived experiences can make a really big difference and so I feel like there is that opportunity to do that.
“We are asking people from the rural farming community to share one thing about their experience of suicide that might be helpful to other people in the same boat. All they need to do is fill in and return a Ripple Effect postcard.
What would you want to tell someone who might be going through a tough time? What advice would you give them? It’s about helping each other turn the tide and learning from other people in the farming community.
The postcards are anonymous and postage paid. It’s a simple process, but one that can potentially make a real difference to someone’s life.
The messages from the postcards will be collected and shared as part of the Ripple Effect website.
People will be able to share their stories of what has helped them, learn from others and take action to make positive changes to their own health and wellbeing.
Alison Fairleigh from the Mental Illness Fellowship of North Queensland—a Ripple Effect partner organisation—explained one of the ideas behind the postcards.
“We understand that rural communities experience severe disadvantage when it comes to internet speed and connectivity, so we want to provide an opportunity for people to contribute to a positive ripple of support both on and offline.”
“The Ripple Effect is about farmers helping farmers. We know through our own experience, that no one tells a story about life on the land, its ups and its downs better than farmers themselves. We also know that people in farming communities are renowned for helping each other—that’s what keeps small communities alive. The Ripple Effect postcards combine the strength of storytelling with rural people’s natural enthusiasm for supporting each other,” Ms Fairleigh said.
The Ripple Effect is a partnership between, National Centre for Farmer Health, Deakin University, Sandpit, Victorian Farmers Federation, AgChatOz, Mental Health Fellowship North Queensland and Western District Health Service.
The Ripple Effect is funded by beyondblue through donations from the Movember foundation.
To request a postcard, find out more information about the Ripple Effect postcards or add your name to our contact list, please visit http://www.therippleeffect.com.au or phone the National Centre for Farmer Health on (03) 5551 8533.
If you are feeling distressed, we urge you to call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or beyondblue on 1300 22 4636 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 for counselling support.
2015-11-19: Recognising and responding to stress in challenging times: Graincorp Newsletter
Farmer Health e-News – November 2015
People’s Choice Voting Open; SFF Trainers Wanted; Start a Ripple of Support; Responding to Stress – read all this and more in this month’s newsletter.
Download the PDF version here : November 2015
2015-11-17: ‘Farmer health the focus of course’: Victorian Government Health Information
Farmer health the focus of course
The National Centre for Farmer Health, through Deakin University, is offering a five-day unit aimed at making a difference to the health, wellbeing and safety of farmers, farming families and agricultural workers.
The agricultural health and medicine unit targets health, education, agricultural professionals and policy makers whose practice and/or policy decisions relate to farming communities and agricultural workforces.
Its goal is to improve the social, physical and mental health of agricultural and rural communities in Victoria and ensure initiatives aimed at this population are effective.
Agricultural workforces in Australia and abroad experience high work-related mortality and tolerate high rates of physical and mental ill-health, which are compounded by limited access and lower levels of health literacy.
This results in above average rates of premature morbidity and mortality through heart disease, cancer and suicide.
The agricultural health and medicine unit will be taught over five days at Western District Health Service in Hamilton between February 22 and 26.
The course is also a core unit of the Graduate Certificate of Agricultural Health and Medicine (GCAHM).
• For more information visit https://farmerhealth.org.au/page/education/what-is-gcahm or visit Deakin, School of Medicine athttp://www.deakin.edu.au/medicine/study-options/graduate-certificate-of-agricultural-health-and-medicine.
To view the article: http://health.vic.gov.au/healthvictoria/nov15/farmers.htm
2015-11-15: Drought Support For Farmers And Their Families: Media Release from Premier of Victoria The Hon. Daniel Andrews MP
The Andrews Labor Government is supporting farmers who are facing the worst of the difficult dry seasonal conditions.
Premier Daniel Andrews, Minister for Agriculture Jaala Pulford, and Minister for Water Lisa Neville, tonight announced a new package of support measures for farmers at a community BBQ in Birchip.
The measures will ensure farmers and their families experiencing emotional and financial stress get the support they need to help them get through these challenging times.
Farms are often a family business and research shows that when faced with drought the health and wellbeing of the family can be significantly impacted.
The new support measures announced include:
- $220,000 to deliver Mental Health First Aid training across the ten identified drought affected local council areas and implement local community engagement and support measures
- $270,000 for additional Rural Financial Counsellors
- $300,000 from the State Schools Relief program to provide families in drought affected communities with uniforms, shoes and other school items.
- $960,000 to support kindergarten participation in drought affected communities
- $1 million to employ drought affected farmers and farm workers on environmental projects
- $1.5 million for a Drought Extension Program to help farmers make necessary on-farm decisions such as de-stocking, animal health and welfare, feed budgeting, land management, irrigation and water use efficiency
- $5.8 million from the Camps, Sports and Excursions Fund to ensure kids in drought affected regions don’t miss out on these important educational experiences
The National Centre for Farmer Health, which received $4 million from the Labor Government in the 2015-16 Victorian Budget, will use this funding to target drought affected areas with a series of activities, workshops and events to support rural families and communities.
The new Drought Extension Program will also fund the Victorian Farmers Federation’s Look Over Your Farm Gate campaign which encourages locals to get together and provide support to each other.
Other opportunities and events for the community to come together will also be sought, for example working with Catchment Management Authorities and Fisheries Victoria to deliver family fishing days.
More information about the new support measures are available at https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/farm-management/drought-support or via the Drought Information Line at 136 186.
To read the full release: http://www.premier.vic.gov.au/drought-support-for-farmers-and-their-families/
2015-10-29: ‘Out of the darkness’ – The Courier
2015 October – ‘Farmers will fight to stop ripple effect of suicide’ – Dairy News Australia
Farmer Health e-News – October 2015
Find out what has kept us busy this month at NCFH!
2015-10-20: ‘How to survive the good, bad and ugly realities of farming: escape’ – ABC Rural
It was The Colosseum, in Rome, that made Victorian grain producer Nick Shady realise he had to move off-farm and commute to ‘work’.
In his early 30s at the time, Mr Shady had worked consistently since leaving school and was worn down by years of failed crops and financial hardship.
Good years brought just as much pressure, to expand the business and continue to grow.
“I’d lost interest in farming,” he said. “I just didn’t have any more drive about what I wanted to do.
“It wasn’t a job, because with a job you can go away; it was a part of your life.”
Victorian grain growers are facing a disastrous season after the hottest start to October on record decimated crops across the state.
Mr Shady believes the inability to escape such harsh realities, which pervade work life and home life, contributes to the high rates of suicide and depression in rural communities.
“I don’t think they can identify it,” he said of his peers’ mental health issues.
“They will just keep going, keep going, keep going, and then something will break.”
New perspective inspires urge to change…
To read the full article, and listen to the audio:
2015-10-20: ‘How to survive the good, bad and ugly realities of farming: escape’ – ABC Rural
2015-10-15 Scholarships to help build stronger, healthier farming communities
Scholarships to help build stronger, healthier farming communities
Farming is second only to mining for the highest industry death toll.
“For too long too many farmers have not even acknowledged illness, let alone allowed it to slow the hectic work schedule now demanded by 21st century farming”. Dr Susan Brumby, Director of the Hamilton-based National Centre for Farmer Health is encouraging Health and Agricultural professionals to get on board to help our farmers and their families build healthy and sustainable farming communities.
With a sobering record of farmers literally working themselves to death because it is too difficult to access appropriate health services, and a long dry summer forecast for much of Australia, the time is now to ask:
“How can I make a difference to farmers’ lives?”
Scholarships of up to $2,500 are now available to prospective students who wish to expand their knowledge of Agricultural Health and Medicine, a postgraduate course offered by the National Centre for Farmer Health and Deakin University which provides a foundation for those who are on the frontline with our farmers. Scholarships close 30th October, 2015.
“The course has already attracted doctors, nurses, veterinarians, counsellors, agriculturalists and public health specialists from across Australia, some of them travelling thousands of kilometres to participate”.
“Over the 22nd-26th February 2016, students will work with an outstanding line-up of medical and industry presenters who will provide an insight of the challenges facing farmers, their families, their staff and their industry” Dr Brumby said.
The topics cover a broad spectrum of agricultural health, safety and wellbeing issues ranging from agricultural medical conditions, mental illness and addiction, through to emergency medicine, agrichemcials, veterinary chemicals, and agricultural trauma. Students gain hands-on experience at local agricultural businesses, developing practical skills that can be applied as soon as they get home.
Rural GP and former student, Dr. Christel Smit Kroner, explains: “The course helped me gain a deeper understanding of the work and life style factors impacting on my patient population. I feel more confident to open up conversations with farmers about their daily work, stresses, worries and joys”.
Felix Ho, a paramedic in Darwin, NT and previous scholarship recipient agrees: “You’re not just looking at the medical conditions, but the range of factors that impact on these conditions in an agricultural context – the family, community and economic aspects.”
Agricultural and Health professionals living or working in rural and remote areas of Australia, and postgraduate students are encouraged to apply.
Scholarship applications are open until 30th October 2015.
For further information visit the National Centre for Farmer Health website at https://farmerhealth.org.au/page/education/what-is-hmf701 or call (03) 5551 8533.
For course and scholarship details, please contact:
Dr Vanessa Vaughan (Lecturer, Rural Health)
National Centre for Farmer Health.
v.vaughan@deakin.edu.au
Phone: 03 5551 8533
2015-10-14 – Rural banking group to support farmers’ physical and mental health – ABC Radio National
An unusual partnership has been formed to improve the health of Australian farmers.
A rural banking group has joined forces with the National Centre for Farmer Health to provide support for farmers.
Rural Bank staff around the country will be keeping an eye on the financial health of farm businesses, as well as the physical and mental health of their rural clients.
Click below to listen to the interview:
To view the original article and audio:
2015-10-14 – Rural banking group to support farmers’ physical and mental health – ABC Radio National
2015-10-09 – ‘Farmers helping farmers to beat rural suicide’ – ABC Rural
They will not have names, nor faces, but a new community of people affected by suicide is being built in a bid to reduce the statistics in rural Australia.
The Ripple Effect project, funded by beyondblue, recognises that many farmers live in isolation and lack the community connection that metropolitan Australians take for granted.
On paper the idea is to create an interactive website, monitored by health professionals, where anonymous users can share stories of mental illness in a safe environment.
But co-creator Tom Whitty, who also founded social media forum AgChatOz and represents the Victorian Farmers Federation, hopes the result will be a supportive online community.
Mr Whitty said the stigma around mental illness often meant farmers did not seek face-to-face support and the online environment offered a less confronting platform to do so….
To read the full article, and listen to the audio:
2015-10-09 – ‘Farmers helping farmers to beat rural suicide’ – ABC Rural