Farm service providers as well as farmers are the target of a mental health support service for St Patrick’s Day fire victims that held its first session at Simpson on Monday.
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Freemasons Victoria is funding the service and its spokesman Jeremy Cattell said it realised that many of those suffering poor mental health because of the fires did not pick up the phone to seek help.
Instead the service was directed at people such as stock agents, veterinarians and milk tanker drivers who frequently interacted with fire victims, Mr Cattell said.
The sessions trained them in the three Rs, Recognise, Respond and Refer, so they could get farmers whose mental health was under stress to professionals.
Mr Cattell said many service providers were also suffering because they were were struggling with how to help farmers in dire straits and the program gave them a framework on how to debrief to others.
Farm service providers are trained in the three Rs, Recognise, Respond, Refer
Freemasons Victoria is providing the services in conjunction with Lifeline Direct, Southwest Primary Care Partnership, Let’s Talk and St John of God Warrnambool.
Mr Cattell said the Simpson session was attended by local businesses, schools and others experienced with the effects of bushfires on the community.
A total of ten community sessions are planned as part of the program.
The next four sessions will be at the Penshurst football netball club rooms on July 30, the Terang Community Health Centre on August 1, Camperdown’s Killara Centre on August 6 and the Cobden Civic Hall on August 13.
For more information on the sessions, ring Mr Cattell on 9411 0111.