Turning the tide on mental health

Employers who can’t support their workers' mental health should go back to the drawing board, according to wellbeing support group Rural Support Trust Mid Canterbury.
Mental illness is not the taboo topic it once was in rural communities, wellness and mycoplasma bovis coordinator Frances Beeston said.
“Mental and physical health, you’ve gotta look after both of them. And I think there’s more awareness and acceptance now to own mental health challenges.”
Beeston has worked with the trust for six years, where she serves as a middleman for farmers and workers who need help, but aren’t sure where to start.
The organisation has existed nationwide since the 1980s, and works to connect people with medical, legal, and financial support amongst other things.
Beeston had worked 20 years as a dairy farmer before joining the trust, and knows firsthand what help farmers need.
“Farmers are the type of people who don’t go until it’s gotten too bad.”
She said conversations around mental health have been made easier by representation in the media.
“People like your Doug Avery and Mike King have helped advocate for that space.
“Guys and girls coming out of university these days are so much more educated about their wellbeing, and work-life balance too,” she added, saying those students will fast-track the culture shift once out in the workforce.
While the rhetoric has improved, the infrastructure has not, Beeston said.
She feels long waits with the health system and underprepared employers are the biggest push backs for farmers who work up the courage to deal with issues.
“I do see guys and girls that are tarred with a brush because they own their mental health and wellbeing, and they talk to their employer about it.
“And the employer doesn’t know how to handle that, and then they think ‘well, I don’t want to employ them’.
“I would rather employ someone that owns their mental health and wellbeing. Because to me, they’re probably looking after it, rather than being in denial.”
The trust was present at last week’s Ruralco Instore Days, located in the middle of the event.
Their placement was deliberate, Ruralco chief executive Tony Aitken said.
“We wanted to put them at our prime spot, in the middle of the marquee where they were available to everybody.
“It’s farmers looking after farmers, and community looking after community.”
Ruralco has partnered with the trust for several events over the last few years, including A&P shows.
The two groups will run a ladies night later this year.
“We’ve had a lot of comments around women that are supporting their partners, but no one’s supporting the ‘supporter’.”
Tyler Langford, a Tākaka farmer and rural mental health advocate, will be speaking at the event.
Beeston asks people with concerns about farmer friends to get in touch.
“Ask if you can pass their number on to Rural Support, and I’ll always give them a ring.”
Beeston is also the regional leader for Rural Women New Zealand.
By Anisha Satya
