You don't have to carry it all on your own.
# sharethe load
Discover resources for farmers, their mates and people living and working in the country to help support their mental health and lighten the load.
What's 'the load'?
Unhealthy stress isn’t usually from one big thing. The impact of tough times on the land, family pressures, finances and more can all pile up and start feeling like too much to carry.
You might notice yourself getting more angry or frustrated, quitting activities or avoiding people, not sleeping, drinking more or feeling stuck or hopeless.
While it's not a great place to be, it's really common to feel like this. That doesn't mean we have to go through it alone or just "tough it out”.
It means that there's plenty of good help already available.
Have a chat to your GP
Your GP looks after all of your health. Even if you are not sure you are experiencing a mental health problem, they are a good place to start.
They can help you understand any physical and mental health symptoms you might be experiencing, provide treatment or refer you for more support, often with Medicare assistance.
Here are some tips when making, preparing for and attending an appointment:
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Be sure to book a longer appointment so you don't feel rushed.
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Make a list of all your symptoms and behaviours including what you are feeling and thinking - this makes it easier to start the conversation and keep it on track.
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Ask questions - if there is something you do not understand, be sure to speak up and ask your doctor to explain it again.
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It is important to be honest with your doctor about your feelings and behaviour so that they can give you the best treatment.
When you see your doctor, they will assess what help you need. This could include:
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making a mental health assessment
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creating a mental health treatment plan (MHTP)
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referring you to a psychiatrist or other mental health professional
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giving you a prescription for medicines to treat depression or anxiety.
It's really important to talk to your doctor if you are starting to struggle with your mental health - they can help you #sharetheload.
Having a chat with someone is an easy way to share the load
Whether it is talking to a mate, your partner, your doctor, a helpline, or a counsellor, we know that sharing how you're feeling can help.
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Talking to someone can help you feel less alone, and like you’re not the only one going through something.
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Sometimes, you’re not looking for the person you speak to to solve your problems, you just want them to listen. You can feel a lot better after just letting it out.
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Often, people find talking to someone so helpful that they wish they’d done it a lot sooner.
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Experts say that talking can provide stress relief, and can lighten the load of a concern someone might be having.
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Talking about a problem can help to start breaking it into smaller parts, which can stop you from feeling so overwhelmed.
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Choosing someone from outside of the situation can help you have a different perspective on things.
You don’t have to put up with feeling low, sad or worried when things seem like too much.
Here are some services that can help.
Free call and text counselling for farmers, truckies, tradies and blue-collar workers; as well as their carers, friends or loved ones.
Available Monday to Friday 8am -10pm
Text or call 0488 846 988
TIACS remove the physical and financial barriers to accessing help through a simple and confidential text and call service directly to professional counsellors and can provide up to 8 free sessions with the same counsellor.
If you’re feeling bogged or trying to pull a mate who’s stuck in the mud, you can get connected with the right help.
On this page you will find information about warning signs, the reasons people can get bogged, getting help for yourself or giving your mate a hand.
MensLine Australia offers free professional 24/7 telephone counselling support for men with concerns about mental health, anger management, family violence (using and experiencing), addiction, relationship, stress and wellbeing.
Their experienced counsellors are here to listen, understand, and provide support for a range of issues.
You do not need a referral and can choose from phone counselling or online counselling chat or video counselling chat. Call 1300 78 99 78 or visit the website to get started.
The Farming Community Counselling service is a free and private service for people who live and work on farms or in farming communities. It is flexible and user friendly. It is responsive to the needs and situation of each person - they meet with people in their homes, in the paddock, at a café or wherever it is most comfortable.
For Deniliquin and surrounds call 0436 811 692
ruralaid.org.au/mental-health-wellbeing/support
Apart from disaster assistance, Rural Aid Australia also offer free, confidential support to farmers and their families.
Call the intake line 1300 175 594 Monday to Friday 9am -5pm or fill out a form on their website.
How to support your mates
You don't need to have all the answers. What’s important is to check on your mate and support them to get help when they need it.
The Are You Bogged Mate? website has great info on how to learn the warning signs and help your mates: areyouboggedmate.com.au/where-to-get-help
To learn more about how to support someone who is suicidal, go to:lifeline.org.au/get-help/topics/preventing-suicide
Why it's important to #share the load
The evidence is as clear as daylight – persistent, ongoing stress leads to anxiety, which can leave us feeling overwhelmed, stuck, bogged down, confused, and tired. Feeling this way can leave us exhausted, feeling helpless and hopeless which can lead to a real risk of depression.
The bottom line is we all have mental health - just like we all have physical health. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's not so good. The one impacts the other and in the end, it is just part of health.
Sharing the load can help make all the difference.
You don't have to wait till you're in crisis or high distress to use one of the many services and helplines out there or to have a chat to your GP.
If you or someone else is experiencing high levels of mental distress or feeling suicidal go to our urgent help page or call 000
Accessline 1800 800 944
Lifeline 13 11 14
Suicide Call Back Service 1300 659 467
Mensline 1300 78 99 78
13YARN 13 92 76
