Farmer depression breakthrough
Taihape farmer Dan Mickleson has spilled his heart out on Facebook after a second bout of depression, and has been overwhelmed by the response.
‘‘The reaction’s gone way beyond anything I imagined when I asked them to post it. I thought it might get 100 likes and 20-odd comments but when they sent me the tracking stats this morning it’s reached over 130,000 people,’’ he said. Entitled ‘‘Real Men Don’t Cry’’, the 1000-word admission of Mickleson’s struggles was posted on the NZ Farming Facebook page.
A self-confessed ‘‘very private and deeply introverted’’ person, he said he was persuaded by friends to open himself up to the world, although he’s reluctant to have his photo shown. ’’It’s taken a tremendous weight off since I went public’’.
Mickleson, 35, shows himself to be a talented writer. ’’I’m pretty much as stereotypical Kiwi male as they come. I eat meat, drink beer, and can name every All Black to have represented NZ since I was 10 years old. I’m reserved, self-reliant, and can jimmy up most problems in a number-eight-wire type fashion with ridiculous ease,’’ he writes.
Twice in recent years his world fell apart. The first time was in 2010, when constant spring rain led to significant new-born animal deaths. ’’I sat down in the mud. And I started to cry. It was too much. I couldn’t go on. Shit, I realised – I’m depressed,’’ he writes. Help was at hand in the form of Sir John Kirwan’s book All Blacks Don’t Cry, in which the key message was not to fight depression but accept it. Later he met Kirwan after he addressed a group of farmers. ’’I shook his hand and said thanks very much, you got me out of some dark places. He said ‘that’s good now you can help’. But I wasn’t ready at that stage to come out publicly.’’
His second serious brush with depression followed a break-up last year, and this time he spiralled down lower than before. But it also prompted him to take the drastic step of baring himself to the world.
Mickleson runs a 1200 hectare sheep and beef property with his father. Now that he has become visible, would he be prepared to become an ambassador for mental health, in the way that people like Doug Avery have? ‘‘I’m having to face up to that sort of prospect. I initially really struggled, I’m not sure I’m suited to that, but if I can help a few guys I will.’’
Where to get help: - Lifeline (open 24/7) - 0800 543 354 Depression Helpline (open 24/7) 0800 111 757 - Healthline (open 24/7) - 0800 611 116 - Samaritans (open 24/7) - 0800 726 666 - Suicide Crisis Helpline (open 24/7) - 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO). Your local Rural Support Trust - 0800 787 254.