Lend a hand on the land

The number of farmers seeking mental health help doubled last year, with men accounting for nearly 70 per cent of those reaching out.

The concerning trend sparked the launch of a farmer-focused mental health campaign, Don’t Keep it Under Your Hat, by specialist mental health support charity TIACS (This is a Conversation Starter).

Supported by the Macdoch Foundation, the campaign encourages farmers to prioritise their mental wellbeing while recognising the unique challenges faced by those in the agriculture industry.

TIACS offers free phone and text counselling services for Australia’s blue-collar, rural, and regional communities and has supported more than 18,230 people since June 2020.

The service spans various occupations, including farmers, apprentices, truck drivers, and construction workers, with men representing more than twothirds of the callers, whose average age is 37.

North Queensland beef farmer and A Place to Call Home podcast host Sam Fryer said if it wasn’t for services such as TIACS, he “wouldn’t be here today”.

Facing adversity from a young age, including the loss of a sibling and severe bullying, Mr Fryer experienced a life-altering accident at 17 that almost saw him lose an arm.

His struggles continued into his early 20s, exacerbated by a workplace incident that pushed him into a dark place, prompting him to seek help.

“We’re pretty bad in rural Australia, especially in agriculture, with speaking up,” the 34-year-old father of three said.

For mental health support, phone or text TIACS on 0488 846 988 or visit tiacs.org