Tackling Mental Health in Drought Statewide forum

Page contents: Overview | Programs presented | Photos | Contact

Overview

One hundred and fifty professionals from the fields of social service, agriculture, mental health, government and community organisations met on Friday 16 March 2007 to tackle the mental health impact of Victoria’s ongoing drought.

The Community Services Minister Gavin Jennings opened the "Tackling Mental Health in Drought" forum. He said the forum was the first time such a comprehensive range of people had met to focus on the mental health and wellbeing of people affected by the drought.

Minister Jennings also launched the "Countering Drought, Manual of Creative Community Solutions" developed by Deakin University at the forum. This manual contains practical ideas about what can make a difference when working with rural communities impacted by drought.

Countering Drought, Manual of Creative Community Solutions (449kb, pdf)

During the morning forum participants shared their practice, ideas, challenges and solutions and heard about a number of innovative and excellent programs that are making a difference across rural Victoria. These presentations highlighted the strength and resilience of rural communities in dealing with the impact of drought. A full list of presentations is included below.

In the afternoon a panel of representatives from a wide range of organisations discussed a hypothetical situation in which a farming family begins to display signs of stress as a result of the drought. The panel included representatives from:

• the primary health sector
• Primary Care Partnerships
• Victorian Farmers Federation
• Department of Primary Industry
• Department of Education
• Victorian Council of Social Services
• Victorian Council of Churches
• Bendigo Bank
• Family Services
• Beyondblue
• The Bouverie Centre

It was evident that the most innovative and effective solutions to reducing the mental health impacts of the drought are developed when organisations work in partnership.

Programs presented

The following programs were presented at the forum:

• The role of Primary Care Partnerships across the Wimmera and other catchments
• The FarmGate project in Campaspe Shire which involves people calling on farmers to provide emergency relief, emotional support and service information
• The Bouverie Centre's training and research program for 'no bull shit therapy'
• The integrated approach the Alpine Shire is taking to drought, bushfires, frost and removal of tobacco licenses
• Western Districts Health Service’s Sustainable Farm Families, a comprehensive program responding to the health of farming families
• The Regional Youth Network in Loddon Mallee who are working to support young people at risk through their Local Learning and Employment Networks
• 'Coach the Coach', aimed at strengthening local sporting coaches in mental health first aid
• Towong Shires's response to the impact of drought on their community
• A series of forums led by the Department of Primary Industry with rural industry, government and the service sector
• Hume's Integrated Primary Mental Health model
• The Pyrenees’ communities extensive use of creative community newsletters
• The 'Drought Postcard Project' where children at primary schools in the Western District paint pictures and send personal messages to farmers on postcards
• Mental Health First Aid courses provided across 39 local government areas for community members, kindergarten teachers, stock agents, bank staff and anyone coming into contact with people who may be feeling the pressure of the drought
• The Hepburn Health Service program 'Pitstop' that provides health information and screenings to men at agricultural shows
• Wimmera and Western District Saleyard allied health information and screening
• An exploration as to how emergency relief organisations and networks can be better integrated with the broader service system, possibly through PCPs

Copies of some of these presentations are available. Please contact Sally Rose.

Photos

The following photos were taken at the forum.

Contact

For more information about the DHS drought response please contact:

Sally Rose
State-wide Drought Response Coordinator
Primary Health Branch
Telephone: (61 3) 9096 8382

Or your Regional DHS Office:

Grampians
Tony Lynch
Telephone: (61 3) 5333 6680

Hume
Narelle Grantham
Telephone: (61 3) 5722 0523

Loddon Mallee
Will Trimble
Telephone: (61 3) 5434 5519

Gippsland
Leah Henderson
Telephone: (61 3) 5177 2690

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