Rural Aid counsellor Jane McCollum urges people who are struggling to ask for help.
During Mental Health Month in October, Rural Aid asked their rural counsellors to share what they want farmers to know about their mental health.
Rural Aid counsellor, Jane McCollum, says the one message she’d like primary producers to know is that it’s okay to admit it when the chips are down, and you need some support.
“At any given time in anyone’s life we all need support in some way. Talk to a friend or family member you can trust and connect with a counsellor if you need to chat with someone outside your personal community. It is brave to say, “I need some support” or even to reach out to someone who you can see may need your support,” Jane said.
“As a Rural Aid counsellor, I believe all humankind deserves to be supported and assisted in difficult times. Rural people are having a particularly difficult journey as they navigate through crucial issues such as drought, social changes, an increasing technological world that can often leave rural people feeling fearful and overwhelmed.”
Outside of helping farmers individually, Jane can be found at fodder deliveries, community events and recovery projects, helping towns and communities build stronger futures.