Time Out Tour - Wyndham, Southland

Wednesday 5 June | 7.00pm - 10.00pm | Wyndham Rugby Football Club

Our ambassador, farmer and TV personality, Matt Chisholm, might have removed the biggest stressor in his life when he left the newsroom, but his struggles continued. Eventually, he was diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. So, what tools does he use to manage his anxiety and remain mentally fit for life? What other tools are out there that may help? How can we help people who are struggling? Join Matt for an important and entertaining yarn that’ll help you look after your greatest assets - you and the people around you.

The Rural Support Trust has partnered with Matt Chisholm to help rural communities continue the conversation about mental health. With the support of the regional Rural Support Trusts across New Zealand, we’re once again bringing Matt to a rural venue near you.

Chisholm has had personal experience of mental health struggles, and the Time Out Tour gives him a chance to share with rural communities how he found a way through.

Come along to another great round of the Rural Support Trusts Time Out Tour and hear from a fantastic panel style event. Prepared to be entertained along the way while catching up with rural people in your community.

Doors open at 7:00 pm. Light supper included.

Free Parking onsite.

Tickets are FREE and registrations are essential.

Meet the panel:

Jack Cocks is an Otago high country sheep and beef farmer. He regularly speaks to farmer, business, and student groups about farmer resilience and wellbeing. His interest in farmer wellbeing grew from a health challenge he faced and resulted in a Kellogg Rural Leadership Programme study. He is talking at the rural support trust event about how ‘Resilient Farmers Thrive in the Face of Adversity’.

Kathryn Wright is a registered counsellor who lives in Te Anau. She is a specialist in dealing with issues around rural mental health and speaks with rural clients all over the country. Kathryn has completed master's research on the mental health of young rural men, 16-30 years old, and why they tend to suffer in silence - the findings of this research have won Kathryn two major awards, including educational excellence, and the Rural Women's health and wellbeing award. This research has also informed other counsellors, psychologists and GP's on how to understand and care for rural populations. Currently Kathryn is completing a PhD focusing on the relationship between small rural community connection and mental health, and how this is being adversely affected by forestry conversions. She is also a certified mental health first aid instructor and sits on the Community Health Council - a consumer voice council concerned with health inequalities in rural communities that advises Te Whatu Ora. Kathryn is on a deer farm with her husband and has two daughters.

Tyler Langford, a city girl that fell in love with a farmer. I now have the blessing of dairy farming in Golden Bay with my husband Wayne and three teenage boys, Lewis (17) Gordie (16) and Alfie (15). We live and farm in one of the most beautiful parts of New Zealand and my children have access to the world’s greatest back yard and we love to be out and about and make the most of it. I am the Executive Director for the Fertiliser Quality Council and the Vice Chairperson for Federated Farmers Dairy Section. I also hold several local governance roles with provincial feds, catchment groups, conservation groups and I chair our local Rec Park Centre. As I said serial committee member. I do all this because I am truly passionate about the connection and resilience of our rural communities. I believe if we strengthen and grow together there is truly no storm, we can’t ride out together. In 2017 our family was in a dark time with my husband suffering from depression, we had just purchased a new farm, a drought and commodity prices plummeting to $3.70!! We then started our YOLO journey, and it led us down a life philosophy that we could never have envisioned. I am honoured now to spend some of my time both locally and nationally spreading our lessons learned, in hope that it will ease or even support someone who in their darkest hour just needs a glimmer of love and hope.