Depression ‘illness, not a weakness’ — advocates Where to get help

A coroner’s findings into a Hawke’s Bay farmer’s suicide highlights the importance of rural people – particularly men – speaking out about mental health, advocates say.

On Thursday, it was revealed in a coroner’s report that Paul ‘‘Butch’’ Renton – a family man, former representative rugby player and tireless farmer – was working 18-hour days in the lead-up to his death in August, 2017.

His suicide followed a period of major depression and anxiety, coroner Peter Ryan found.

Rural Support Trust’s Hawke’s Bay trustee Kevin Mitchell said it was often hard for rural people to discuss mental health issues.

‘‘The stoic rural individuals don’t usually like to talk about emotional stuff like that, they like to deal with everything themselves.’’

Not only did rural people have to deal with climate issues, and markets which were ‘‘out of their control’’, there were also intense compliance matters to manage, he said.

‘‘Then you add something like the Mycoplasma bovis that’s spread around the country, that’s adding another level of stress, because farmers love their stock. The last thing they want is their animals sick.’’

Throw in relationship and financial burdens, and the pressure became extremely high, Mitchell said.

"We need to make sure that family and neighbours are aware of how their family and friends are feeling ... If you’re feeling a bit down, going and seeing your GP and talking to your best mate is a hell of a first step.’’

Depression was an ‘‘illness, not a weakness’’, he said. ‘‘You’re not weak if you’re suffering from depression. It is an illness. Treat it right and it can be lived with and handled. But if it’s not talked about it can get worse.’’

Isolation was a large part of the problem, Mitchell said, but farmers also ‘‘by their very nature’’ loved being out on their own.

"It’s tough to admit that sometimes it can get a bit overwhelming.’’

Men’s Health Trust New Zealand chairman Phil Clemas said men tended to talk less about their mental health than women out of fear of looking like a ‘‘fool’’ or ‘‘stupid’’.

‘‘We need to try to overcome that hardwired attitude and say ... we’re also a person, and we have one health, and we need to look after it. If it’s not right, or it feels not right, we should at least be able to feel [comfortable] talking to someone about it.’’

Farmstrong spokesman Gerard Vaughan said it was often challenging for farmers to take mandatory breaks as their work was ongoing.

‘‘Nearly half of farmers said [taking regular breaks] was the biggest challenge to their wellbeing when we surveyed them.’’

Careers New Zealand said workplace culture on farms needed to change. ‘‘Farmers and farm workers are people first.’’ 254

Rural Support Trust

1737 Need to talk?

(0508 TAUTOKO) (0800 269 4389) 0800 732 825 – Free call 0800 787 Free call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained counsellor

– 0800 543 354 or (09) 5222 999 within Auckland

– 0800 726 666

– 0508 828 865

Lifeline

Samaritans Suicide Crisis Helpline

Anxiety New Zealand

Supporting Families in Mental Illness

– 0800 ANXIETY –