The Western Region Alcohol and Drug Centre (WRAD), in conjunction with South West TAFE, created the video for farmers struggling during the dairy crisis and others experiencing mental health issues. 

The two-part video features an interview with Graeme Cowan, author of Back From The Brink which tells stories of prominent and everyday Australians who have overcome depression.

Mr Cowan came from a dairy farming background. He shares his own battles with depression and and features practical advice about how to recover and deal with setbacks.

“One of the things about depression is you feel like it’s going to last forever, you really do,” Mr Cowan said.  

“I tried lots of things I tried lots of different medications, I went to counselling, I tried kinesiology, acupuncture  all sorts of things, but literally for five years things just didn’t seem to get better.

“It was a very, very hopeless situation.”

Mr Cowan first experienced depression in Sydney aged 21, while attending university. He felt isolated, unwell, he wasn’t sleeping and couldn’t concentrate.

“It was before the days of (mental health support service) beyondblue and I really didn’t know what it was. There wasn’t great awareness.” 

He recommends those who have been in a “really dark spot for a long period of time” to find doctor who listens and can provide practical advice.

“It was a long slow path to recovery. My psychiatrist described my depression as the worst he’d ever treated.

“I felt incredibly desperate and I felt incredibly hopeless and the people I interviewed (for my book) felt the same way. 

“The big message that I like to communicate is that no matter how dark it seems that there is hope. 

“I was 100 per cent convinced that I wouldn’t get better so reaching out and asking for help, whether it’s to a loved one, whether it’s to a helpline, whether its to a mate, whether it’s to colleague is a really really critical element.”

Mr Cowan said support from loved ones was central to him being here today. 

“I don’t think I would have made it if it wasn’t for them...That support from loved ones, whether its a spouse, or parents or friends is just critical, it really is.”

Mr Cowan said is now focused on “spreading the message about how people can to stay in a positive mood.” 

He said meditation, regular exercise, being in nature and connecting with family and friends helped.

“I’ve been in a dark place. I never want to go there again so I’m very disciplined about doing the things I know that keep me well.” 

Mr Cowan has spoken at a number of events in country Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland and said sharing his experience helped. "Knowing you make a difference in people’s lives is a big thing."

“The other thing I also learnt and I think it’s a really important lesson; you can’t help other people if you’re not in a good place yourself.

“We have to be selfish in some respects  to make sure we look after out own wellbeing first and do the things that keep us well so that we’re in a position then to assist other people. 

He said sometimes “you don’t have all the answers”. 

“I think men in particular have been socialised to sort out problems themselves and if they don’t it’s an issue. My message to my 18-year-old self would be to be gentle on yourself and don’t be afraid to ask help if you don’t feel like you’re coping.

“The big thing is that no matter how dark things are... it is totally possible to come back from the brink. It is totally possible to have an amazing life again. That's the overwhelming message that I would like to share with other people is that there is hope," he said. 

Mr Cowan conducted a resilience and workforce culture seminar for Community South West in Warrnambool last year.

WRAD director Geoff Soma said the WRAD Board and South West TAFE believed it was timely to produce the resource because of the "increasing proportion of people with problems such as depression and anxiety".

Mr Soma encouraged anyone who was struggling to ask for help.

“It is important that people requiring support make contact with us as soon as possible to assist with the recovery process,” Mr Soma said.