Rain or shine, Aussie farmers and farming communities have always looked out for one another. But when it comes to their own mental health, asking for help hasn’t always come easy.
Now, a new video series from Adelaide University’s ifarmwell team is reducing stigma around help-seeking and reminding rural communities that reaching out for support is a sign of strength.
Funded by the CMV Group Foundation, the five-part video series features stories from farmers who have experienced postnatal depression, grief, relationship breakdown, isolation and the cumulative pressures of life on the land, alongside practical advice from a rural GP about how to access support and what to expect when taking that first step.
The project is part of the broader ifarmwell Weather it together campaign, a farmer wellbeing initiative funded by the South Australian Government’s Drought Response Support Package, that encourages farmers to look after their wellbeing by staying connected, focusing on what they can control, keeping active and speaking up when they need support.
Led by Associate Professor Kate Gunn, Founder and Director of ifarmwell, the project reflects an important shift in attitudes where farmers are more willing to talk about mental health.
Weather it together campaign coordinator, Adelaide University’s Annabelle Ottens grew up on the land. Based in South Australia’s Clare Valley, she said the new video series presents mental health messages in a non-confrontational way.
“Farmers love helping other farmers, but for generations, talking about their own mental health has been difficult to do,” Ottens said.
“Traditional mental health campaigns often fail to connect with farmers because they can feel too clinical or disconnected from life on the land.
“But through Weather it together and the new video series, thanks to the help of these four generous farmers, we’ve been able to put farmers’ own voices and lived experiences at the centre of the conversation, helping deliver messages that are credible, practical and relatable.
“When farmers hear from other farmers who have faced similar challenges, it can help break down stigma and make it easier to take that first step towards seeking support.”
South East farmer Ashley Schmidt said recognising signs that he needed help and then seeking support helped him regain perspective after several difficult years marked by personal loss, workplace challenges and ongoing farming pressures.
“I was wondering what the point of everything was – why was I farming? And I was thinking ‘there’s got to be a better way of life’,” Schmidt said.
“I was trying to help everyone else to be happy and who they needed to be, but I wasn’t who I wanted to be.
“By taking the step to invest in myself and spend the time looking after myself, I’ve come out a better person, someone who’s able to be there for everyone around me.”
Mount Gambier GP Dr Justin Gladman, who grew up in a rural area with close ties to the land and who features in the videos, said many farmers are surprised by how common mental health conversations are in rural medical practices.
“Over the course of a day, I’d have three or four farmers mention mental health concerns or that they’re struggling,” Dr Gladman said.
“You don’t have to walk in with a clear idea of what you want in terms of treatment options. Even just saying, ‘I'm struggling’ is enough to start. Ninety per cent of the work is simply starting the conversation.”
Ottens said suicide prevention remains a key focus of the campaign.
“While farmers are recognised as having an elevated risk of suicide, many continue to find positive ways to cope with the ups and downs of farming.
“More than ever, farmers are reaching out for professional mental health support, and we're incredibly grateful to those who have been willing to share their stories to help others.
“By sharing these experiences, we hope to make it easier for more farmers to seek support, inspire conversations about wellbeing within families, workplaces and communities, and reduce the stigma surrounding mental health and suicide.
“We believe sharing these stories has the power to save lives.”
The videos feature farmers from across South Australia, including Peterborough, Coonalpyn, Kulpara, the State’s far north, and form part of a growing library of lived-experience stories designed to support farmer wellbeing and suicide prevention.
To view the videos, visit weatherittogether.org.au/stories
For more information and farmer wellbeing resources, visit Weather it together and ifarmwell.
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Media contacts:
Annabelle Ottens (Homer), Weather it together Campaign Coordinator, Adelaide University.
T: +61 402 345 524 E: Annabelle.Ottens@adelaide.edu.au
Ashley Schmidt, South East farmer T: +61 438 711 068
Annabel Mansfield, Senior Media Adviser Adelaide University. T: +61 479 182 489
E: Annabel.Mansfield@Adelaide.edu.au