Welcome boost to rural mental health
New funding from the Government to help rural communities deal with an acute mental health situation is welcome, says Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa NZ (RHANZ) chairperson Dr Jo Scott-Jones.
At least four farmers are reported to have committed suicide since Fonterra lowered its farmgate milk price late last year.
Scott-Jones says farmers need to know support and other services are available within their local communities.
“The general practices are well aware of this issue and are keen to help people because suicide is not an option and being depressed is not something to be ashamed of,” he told Rural News.
“There are services available through the Rural Support Trusts around the country and in many ways these can be the first organisation for farmers who are under pressure to go to. They are run by farmers for farmers and they have links to appropriate services to support people through a whole range of issues – financial, drought and flooding, and mental health issues.”
Scott-Jones, a GP in Opotiki, says there is clearly a difference between health services in rural and urban centres. It’s much easier for people in urban centres where population numbers support higher levels of service.
“But we do our best in the rural community and people shouldn’t feel neglected. Mental health issues are things that people often keep to themselves, fearing they are going to take up people’s time. They think we are terribly busy, which we are, but we are open and keen to see anyone facing these sorts of difficulties in the rural community.”
Scott-Jones sees ‘male stoicism’ as a potential problem – farmers revert to a ‘can do, number 8 wire, we can fix it’ approach to life. Farmers may feel they should be able to deal with stuff themselves, but, in fact, mental health issues require that they seek help.
“From my experience, the pressure in rural areas results from things beyond a farmer’s control,” Scott-Jones says. “The weather, price of milksolids, effects of drought and flooding and things such as Psa.
“Many of the things that happen to people in rural communities are imposed from without and they don’t have any control over it. There is no element of lifestyle choice in suffering a drought.”
Scott-Jones says his message to farmers is that they need to recognise when they are having a problem. Symptoms include cutting themselves off from friends, becoming angry with their workers or showing frustration towards their animals.
Talk to somebody, he urges – the Rural Health Support Network or the local GP.
For help call 0800 787254
