“But finally, we have given ourselves permission to talk about it,” Chamberlain said.
More than 150 rural professionals and others servicing the rural community turned out to the Agri Connect workshop.
Organised in conjunction with Whatever with Wiggy and Farming Families, and supported by the Mid Canterbury Rural Support Trust, the workshop aimed at equipping rural professionals and those working within rural communities with the tools they need to help farmers struggling with stress.
Rural advocate Craig “Wiggy” Wiggins was inspired to organise the seminar after being approached by rural professionals and farm service providers saying their staff are regularly finding farmers who want to discuss their mental state of mind.
“The people I have spoken to have realised that they are dealing with a turning point in a client’s life, a cry for help to relieve the pressure,” Wiggins said.
“As a rural representative you may be the first to recognise when a client or colleague needs support.”
Chamberlain says this is when you need to have the conversation.
“Don’t be scared, you can’t do any damage by caring about someone,” Chamberlain said.
“But hey, don’t ask the question if you don’t have time to listen.
“And it’s not the question ‘you are not thinking about committing suicide?’
“You don’t commit suicide, you die by suicide.
“Try asking how they are feeling about issues on the farm, financials, marriage – you have opened the door, then go by your gut feeling and don’t be afraid to call 1737 for help.”
Chamberlain revealed figures that showed 700 people died from suicide last year, twice the number of those who died on roads.
In 1973, 800 people died on New Zealand roads.
“What does that tell you? There is not a lot of cavalry coming over the hills to help us; it’s our job, rural communities, we have to do it,” he said.
Rural GP Anibal Martinez says there is not an identified specific problem for rural suicide.
“There are many, many factors, but it is definitely genetic,” Martinez said.
“Farmers breed more farmers, and farmers are very differently genetically wired to the rest of the world in how they think and how they work.
“Instead of finding a solution, they work harder and burn out.”
In a powerful keynote address, well-known media personality Matt Chisholm shared his experience and struggles with anxiety and depression.
“I was an outside boy at home on the farm, in the bush, but I’m also curious and I also love communicating. I could talk to anyone, anywhere, about anything, I thought I’d be good at journalism,” Chisholm said.
“I always said yes to work and no to everything else. I became a perfectionist. Eventually I had nothing more to give (and) I discovered booze.
“Getting pissed and getting nude for me went together like bacon and eggs, but privately the booze and my behaviour was gradually killing me; the anxiety, shame and guilt was tortuous.
“After a decade in the game I was buggered, broken, wondering how I would get off the treadmill.
“I’d had enough, I wanted to die, my New Year’s resolution was to survive.
“Then, for the first time in my life I was asked if I needed to see a doctor. I said yes.
“Not being okay is surprisingly normal and we have to open up to that.
“I no longer have to prove anything to anyone, this stuff is real, I’m in my happy place back home on the farm in Central Otago.
“I should have put my hand up sooner.”
Southland dairy farmer Jason Herrick talked of his experiences as a farmer and what drove him down a rabbit hole, how he clawed his way out, highlighting the impact it had on his family.
He is helping other farmers now.
“We all need to talk, and we all need to do something about it. I would like to see these (Agri Connect) meetings go nationwide to encourage and educate,” Herrick said.
Presentations were also heard from organisations specialising in physical, mental and business wellbeing.
Suffering from depression or stress, or know someone who is? Where to get help:
RURAL SUPPORT TRUST: 0800 RURAL HELP
DEPRESSION HELPLINE: 0800 111 757
LIFELINE: 0800 543 354
NEED TO TALK? Call or text 1737
SAMARITANS: 0800 726 666
YOUTHLINE: 0800 376 633 or text 234
