Mecardo Insights - Mental health in the bush
- By: "Farm Tender" News
- US & World News
- Aug 01, 2018
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by Georgia Cosier.
As part of the Ruralco network, Mecardo are strong advocates of the work conducted by crisis support and suicide prevention charity Lifeline Australia. Since 2015 Ruralco have had a corporate partnership with Lifeline, engaging in a number of initiatives to support Lifeline in assisting those in rural areas who are in crisis.
In a new initiative the two organisations are rolling out the first nation-wide survey into how rural communities and farmers cope with life’s difficulties, the Farmers and Rural Communities Survey.
With many regions doing it tough, the survey responses will allow Lifeline to develop rural-specific information modules for their telephone counselors when helping those in rural areas, along with informing proactive assistance programs that can be rolled out to make communities more resilient and suicide safe.
Suicide rates in rural areas are nearly double those in metropolitan areas, highlighting the importance of Lifeline to these communities. With much of the country currently facing drought, there are serious concerns for the mental health of those on the land.
Lifeline’s telephone counsellors are available on 13 11 14 to assist those in rural areas whenever they are in crisis and need to talk. To ensure this help is as beneficial as it can be requires a deep level of understanding of the difficulties rural people face, how they cope with these and how they would like to be helped.
To gain this understanding Lifeline are asking those in rural areas to complete this survey, which can be taken by following the below link:
No personal information details are required to complete the survey, all information collected is confidential.
We hope that you will complete the survey, with your help we can help prevent suicide.
If this article has left you feeling distressed or unhappy, please call Lifeline 13 11 14
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