THE National Centre for Farmer Health at Hamilton is leading a project that aims to help farmers beat suicide.
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The centre’s director Dr Susan Brumby said the project, known as the Ripple Effect, aimed to create a safe online platform where farmers could feel comfortable about sharing their contact with suicide.
“Whether this be through losing someone to suicide, having thought about or attempted suicide themselves, caring for someone who has attempted suicide or been affected by suicide in some other way,” Dr Brumby said.
“The point of the Ripple Effect is that through our online digital website, farmers can share their stories of what has helped them, learn from others and take action to make positive changes to their own health and wellbeing.
The point of the Ripple Effect is that through our online digital website, farmers can share their stories of what has helped them.
- Susan Brumby
“Participation in the Ripple Effect will be anonymous and will allow farmers to ask questions and share their experience with their peers either through video, written word or voice, in addition to accessing information about looking after yourself and where you can find support.
“We understand that rural communities experience severe disadvantage when it comes to internet speed and connectivity – so we will adapt our platforms to cater for this wherever possible.”
The project is funded by beyondblue through donations from the Movember foundation.
It is a partnership between leading rural advocacy, academic and health organisations and received a $440,000 grant in July this year to help prevent the suicide of men in farming communities.
“The Ripple Effect Steering Group was appointed in August, and earlier this week, during Mental Health Week, held its first ever face-to-face meeting of farmers, rural health experts and industry partners,” Dr Brumby said.
She said the steering group included representatives from the farming community who had experience of suicide and leading experts in rural health.