Mental Health Support for Drought Affected Communities Initiative

Coordinator - Ruth Turpin

The Department of Health and Ageing Mental Health Support for Drought Affected Communities Initiative is providing funds over two years (2007-2009) to build the capacity of rural and remote drought affected communities to respond to the psychological impact of the ongoing drought.

As an eligible Division, Murray-Plains has taken up this initiative with the employment of a Drought & Rural Support coordinator with the key aims to:

• Provide community outreach and crisis counselling for distressed individuals and communities in drought affected rural and remote areas
• Raise community awareness; and
• Provide education and training to enable health workers and community leaders to recognise and respond to the early warnings of emotional stress

With an initial focus on Gannawarra, Campaspe, Buloke and Lodden shires, the PCPs, Neighbourhood Houses and Mental and Community Health Services in these areas, community support has been in a number of roles:

• Farm Gate visits continue to be well accepted and appreciated.  Much of the support in these visits involves referrals to Rural Financial counsellors, Centrelink Rural officers and various Health services
• Co-Facilitating the No Bull Support workshops which aim to provide easy to follow guidelines on how to support someone in trouble, as well as ways to take care of one's self in the process.  The target audience for these workshops is any secondary worker who came into contact with distressed farmers and community members
• Co-Facilitating Women's Strength building programs with its aim to increase self esteem, resilience and find strength in sharing within an intimate working group
• Talking to groups and organisations about what is really happening to our farmers and small businesses and rural communities who are suffering from the effects of the ongoing drought. 

With the current season showing little promise of recovery, or even an average year, this work will continue in the form of personal and financial supports to existing and new initiatives across the Divisions large geographical area and the many communities and their members who are facing yet another distressing year.

For more information, please contact Ruth Turpin.