Health and wellbeing support for farmers and rural workers

Health & Wellbeing

Our primary goal is to support rural people heal and recover; returning to farming and family sooner rather than later

Mental health was seen by those experiencing mental illness as placing a burden on family and friends. Most still don’t reach out due to shame or the fear of being treated unfairly - yet half of the NZ population experiences mental illness at some time in their lives.  

Rural Support Trust Facilitators are trained to recognise signs of dis-Stress and/or Stress and triage rural people with anxiety and/or depression in a caring, confidential and compassionate manner.

Our other goal is to support development of Individual and Community resilience with education.

Free community training is delivered through a Good Yarn Mental Health workshop so get in touch with your local Trust.  

Read on for more information to support your road to recovery, or phone us on 0800 824 757.

Stress and Burnout

We all have ups and downs at work and in life. To manage potential stress and burnout check out Farmstrong’s tips and tricks.  They also have a handy warning signs checklist to help you recognise the signs of stress in yourself or others and reach out for help. 

Five Ways to Wellbeing

The five ways to wellbeing can help people stay mentally well

Connect, me whakawhanaunga

Talk, listen, be there.  Positive social interactions make us feel happy, connected and secure.

Be Active, me kori tonu

Being physically active can improve our wellbeing.  Do what you can and enjoy what you do. 

Take Notice, me aro tonu

Take note of the little things that bring you joy. This can include gratitude, forgiveness and reflection.

Keep Learning, me ako tonu

Embrace new experiences, see opportunities.  As an adult this can help to set and achieve goals.

Give, tukua

Your time, yours words, your presence.  By helping others, we give ourselves a sense of purse and a feeling of being part of a community or team.

For more information check out the Five Ways To Wellbeing Resources on the Mental Health Foundation website.

Looking after our physical health is an important part of looking after both our mental and physical wellbeing.

Sleep

Our body is designed to get 8 hours sleep. Things can get tough quickly if you aren’t getting enough sleep.  Sleep deprivation can impact your mental and physical wellbeing.  It can make you tired, intolerant and exhausted and fatigue can be a factor in accidents.  Farmstrong have some useful tips on how to help get to sleep and stay asleep.  Sleep well

Nutrition

All farmers know nutrition is important.  They assess it on a day to day basis for their animals. We need to ensure our own diet is nutritious and sufficient to fuel our daily activities, including remaining hydrated particularly on those hot summer days working outside.  There are loads of tips on the Farmstrong website to help you meet your daily nutritional requirements and some time saving tips to make it easy.  Eat well

Physical Activity

Being physically active helps us on farm but also ensures we can keep doing and seeing the things we love.  Daily physical activity will help ensure you are prepared for the high impact times on farm such as calving and lambing.  Farm fit helps you with the three steps to get going and keep going – make it a habit – start slowly – involve others.

Remember, you get your machinery checked and serviced regularly.  It is important to do the same for yourself with a check up at your GP.  


Check out some useful articles about health and wellbeing:

New rural clinical telehealth service set to support rural communities across Aotearoa

New rural clinical telehealth service set to support rural communities across Aotearoa

Following a contestable process (RFP) which received strong interest from the health sector, Ka Ora Telecare Limited (known as ‘Ka Ora’) has been awarded the contract to deliver the...
November 23, 2023 0 Comments
FMG Spot Check Roadie with Melanoma New Zealand

FMG Spot Check Roadie with Melanoma New Zealand

The FMG Spot Check Roadie kicked off last year and visited four locations around the country, for the full results.  And this year they're heading out again with their partners...
October 20, 2023 0 Comments
Surfing for Farmers recognised as Rural Champions at B+LNZ Awards

Surfing for Farmers recognised as Rural Champions at B+LNZ Awards

The Beef + Lamb New Zealand awards were held last night in Christchurch. The judges said it was hard not to give Surfing For Farmers a perfect score.
October 20, 2023 0 Comments
A Call Away - Shepherdess talk to North Canterbury RST representative Jen Le Pine

A Call Away - Shepherdess talk to North Canterbury RST representative Jen Le Pine

Long-time sheep and beef farmer Jen Le Pine, 50, fills her cup with volunteering in the Cheviot community. She’s an area representative for the North Canterbury Rural Support Trust, using...
October 16, 2023 0 Comments
Losing a loved one to suicide

Losing a loved one to suicide

Losing someone to suicide may leave you with lots of questions that are difficult or even impossible to answer.

October 11, 2023 0 Comments
Three great tips from Lance Burdett

Three great tips from Lance Burdett

Asking for help is a sign of true courage and strength, a true hero. It takes courage to admit that you don't have all the answers and that you need the support of others. Seeking help from a...
October 11, 2023 0 Comments
Surfing for Farmers 2023 - 2024 Season

Surfing for Farmers 2023 - 2024 Season

The new season is fast approaching, keep your eyes peeled for your regions start dates and times ...

October 6, 2023 0 Comments
The Shepherdess Muster 2024 - Mōtū, Te Tairāwhiti (Gisborne District), East Coast

The Shepherdess Muster 2024 - Mōtū, Te Tairāwhiti (Gisborne District), East Coast

Women are gathering from across provincial Aotearoa for a weekend-long festival that's just for you. A chance to get away from it all, with friends old and new. A place to connect,...
October 1, 2023 0 Comments
Safer Farms - Making Good Calls for Kids on Farm

Safer Farms - Making Good Calls for Kids on Farm

Safer Farms recently held an online hui to support and enable farmers to make good calls when it comes to on-farm safety for our children. The recording is now available to view below.
September 28, 2023 0 Comments
Farm Without Harm - Safety Conversatons

Farm Without Harm - Safety Conversatons

September 2023 -  Up Our Game Workshop was on having good safety conversations. A key insight from this session was that health and safety is the outcome of great work. As panelist and...
September 28, 2023 0 Comments
Taranaki Rural Support Trust Facilitator & Dairy Farmer Belinda Price talks to REX (podcast)

Taranaki Rural Support Trust Facilitator & Dairy Farmer Belinda Price talks to REX (podcast)

Belinda shares her peronsal struggles with mental wellbeing, giving back via the Rural Support Trust, juggling the farm, kids, school holidays and finsihing off her 2021 Fonterra Dairy...
September 25, 2023 0 Comments
NZ Young Farmers and Rural Support Trust join forces to enhance wellbeing

NZ Young Farmers and Rural Support Trust join forces to enhance wellbeing

Rural Support Trust (RST) and New Zealand Young Farmers (NZYF) are pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to strengthen their collaborative efforts in supporting...
September 25, 2023 0 Comments
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