Stepping up awareness for rural mental health

NZ Young Farmers CEO Terry Copeland at the mental health campaign launch.

Young Farmers is stepping up its mental health campaign among rural youth with a series of Good Yarn workshops around New Zealand, aimed at supporting vulnerable members.

Following on from the launch of a documentary that featured stories of depression and suicide among members, the organisation will facilitate the mental health workshops in an effort to combat the increase in suicides, particularly among young rural males.

Figures released by Chief Coroner Judge Deborah Marshall show the 20-24 year-old age group recorded the highest number of suicide deaths at 79 for the year ended June 2017. Of that, 61 of those deaths were males.

Overall, it was the third year in a row that the number of suicides had increased.
CEO Terry Copeland said he was saddened at the statistics.

"Inevitably, the young rural male continues to feature more prominently every year in the statistics and we must do all we can to halt that incline."

"NZ Young Farmers were not immune to the statistics with a recent suicide of a popular member highlighting the need to put resources into the mental wellbeing of rural youth," he said.

Mr Copeland said the terminology around suicide was equally as important as the work taking place to prevent it.

"While it's important that there is more talk in the media around suicide, the term they often use -'committed suicide' - needs to be changed. That implies it is a crime and further stigmatizes the issue.

"We remain determined to eradicate that stigma and to foster a culture and network where talking about your feelings is welcomed."

NZ Young Farmers will hold 12 Good Yarn Workshops throughout New Zealand from the middle of September until the end of November.

The wellness workshops help participants recognise and respond appropriately to friends, family, farming colleagues or customers suffering from stress or mental illness.

Mr Copeland said while the workshops were a vital step forward in dealing with mental health issues, it was also important to realise NZ Young Farmers could not carry the load alone.

"We believe collaboration within our industry is part of the process going forward and we will be reaching out to other agri-organisations that want to partner with us in relaying the message over coming months."

"At the same time the NZ Young Farmers Mental Health documentary that featured several members who had been courageous in telling their story about depression candidly, continued to be viewed by a wide audience," he said.

"The documentary remains a deliberate attempt by NZ Young Farmers to be transparent on the issue and we are pleased that it has been viewed widely."

WHAT: NZ Young Farmers Good Yarn Workshops
WHERE: Through-out New Zealand
WHEN: September to November 2017
LINK: www.ontheland.co.nz