Source: Federated Farmers
Federated Farmers leaders in Otago and Southland are urging any farmers struggling with their mental health to reach out for help.
“In Southland, it’s been raining pretty much constantly since April and a lot of farmers here are really battling,” Federated Farmers Southland president Jason Herrick says.
“As farmers, we take immense pride in our animals and in our farms and it’s not easy slogging it out day after day in wet weather gear.
“Morale is low and, with more rain expected this week, we need to be looking out for each other and working together as a rural community to get through this.
“I can’t say this strongly enough: if you’re doing it tough, please pick up the phone and ask for help because there’s a lot of support out there.”
Herrick says Rural Support Trust (0800 787 254) has excellent local people who know farming and are trained to help farmers through all kinds of situations.
He recommends the free 1737 phone service for people who need a chat.
Luke Kane, Federated Farmers Otago president, says the prolonged wet conditions and past week’s flooding in some parts of the province have left many farmers in a bad state.
“It’s fair to say that stress levels are pretty high around the place, and a lot of farmers are doing it tough as they move into recovery from the flooding.
“The feed situation is dire in some areas here, and in Southland too, so we need to be pulling together to look out for each other.”
Kane says it’s easy to get isolated and feel like you’re the only one not coping.
“I encourage farmers to lean over the fence or go for a drive to talk with your friends and neighbours to get some perspective and clear the head.
“This is also about checking in on others too, making sure they’re okay and not shutting themselves off.”
He says those in a slightly better situation could consider organising a potluck dinner and getting some of the neighbours over to lift the mood.
“It’s times like these we need to dig deep and support each other.”
Having been through a mental breakdown in 2018, partly as a result of similar weather conditions, Herrick is a strong advocate for rural mental health.
“When it rains and rains, you get to a point where just hearing the rain on the roof at night can cause you to lie awake worrying.
“I’ve been talking to some guys down here who are completely overwhelmed by what’s in front of them – stock losses, flooded paddocks, blown out culverts, and so on – and they don’t know what to start on first.
“But what I’ve learned over the years is that, in these conditions, we just have to do the best we can and make the best farm management decisions possible until the sun comes out again – which it will.
“If you grab the opportunity to get your farm teams in the ute and do a tour around your patch, you’ll see we’re all in this together and the decisions you’re making are the best decisions you can.”
Herrick says it may sound like a basic message, but getting enough sleep is also crucial.
“You can’t function effectively or make good decisions without it.”
Federated Farmers wants to commend farmers for doing the best for their stock and their people during these tough times, Kane says.
“There are some great initiatives coming from right across the industry, and we’re hearing awesome stories about how the community is pulling together to wrap around support.”
Kane adds that farmers may not have a lot of dry ground right now, but they do have some common ground.
“We’re all sick of the rain and we all need each other.”
