By Lauren Henry

Welfare agencies are encouraging farmers to seek help for their mental health amid the effects of the driest Wimmera autumn in 16 years.

Dry conditions have forced farmers to buy feed for stock for months on end, causing higher workloads, anxiety and stress.

Low rain totals are particularly evident across the southern Wimmera, with Edenhope’s autumn rain totalling 32.4 millimetres, well below the autumn average of 127.1mm, according to Bureau of Meteorology data.

Following no rain in March, then 17.8mm in April and 14.6mm in May; only 17.4mm has been recorded so far in June, which usually averages 66mm.

Similarly at Kanagulk, near Balmoral, the autumn rain totalled 31.6mm – none in March, 18.2mm in April and 13.5 in May – whereas the autumn rain average is 99.2mm.

June’s total so far is 11.6mm – a long way off the average of 56mm.

Horsham has fared marginally better with 65.9mm during autumn – 16mm in March, 30.8mm April and 10.6mm May – less than the autumn average of 89.7. 

Rural Outreach worker Murray McInnes spoke at a field day at Nareen, south of Harrow, which attracted more than 400 farmers, in response to widespread burnout and anxiety.

“This is a new experience for the younger farmers, so it’s hitting them hardest, and there’s no sign of a real rain break coming,” he said.

“Some stress is normal but, if it is dragging on and typical coping strategies aren’t working, it’s time to reach out for help.

“The key message is that there are several options available and no one has to endure this alone.”

Mr McInnes is one of three Grampians Health outreach workers delivering free mental health assistance across western Victoria – the trio travel 28,000 square kilometres to meet with people in their homes or paddocks.

The non-clinical service aims to prevent serious mental health episodes and, when necessary, help people to navigate the healthcare system.

“Studies have shown farmers who regularly take some time for themselves are actually financially better off,” Mr McInnes said.

“Think about it – nobody makes consistently good decisions when they are tired and stressed.”

Best Wool Best Lamb event organiser Tim Leeming said connecting with peers was just as important as developing farming strategies.

“I came up with the idea when I noticed a few neighbours had stopped waving and were showing some bad signs,” he said.

“It’s about sharing ideas around addressing the feed deficit, but it’s also about getting people together for those social and mental benefits.

“When you look at how many people turned up, it shows that we’re all in the same boat and figuring out the best way to get through.”

GeoCommodities broker Brad Knight said farmers had to buy in fodder and grain for livestock, and prices were increasing due to both the strong demand and international markets compounded by production concerns in Russia.

“It is as dry as many farmers in that part of the world can remember – it’s extremely dry, not a blade of grass in a lot of areas,” he said.

“I think increasing feeding has been happening for a number of years now in that part of the world, certainly through the summer and the early autumn, but to buy this far into the autumn, and now obviously into the winter, that’s the unusual component of it.

“It’s been the length of demand that has been the surprising component of it, not the fact they are feeding, because it’s becoming quite common for supplementary feeding, particularly in sheep grazing.”

To contact the free Rural Outreach service phone 1300 OUTREACH, 1300 688 732, or by visiting www.edmh.org.au/rural-outreach-program.

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