Agriculture Victoria has teamed up with the Department of Health to support the mental health of farmers across the State.
Announcing the project rollout, Minister for Agriculture, Mary-Anne Thomas said the joint two-year Resilient Farming Communities Project would increase awareness of mental health treatment options and care and support services, while enhancing social connectedness through community events and training.
“Initiatives include outreach services, on-farm health workshops, wellbeing plans for rural communities, the delivery of resilience programs in secondary schools and mental health first aid training,” Ms Thomas said.
“Our farmers have faced many challenges over the years, including drought, bushfires and now the pandemic, which all take their toll on resilience,” she said.
“This Project ensures farmers and their communities are supported to focus on their mental health.”
Ms Thomas said the Project would run in 25 local government areas, from the Bass Coast to Buloke and from the Gippsland Lakes to the Grampians.
The Minister said with the support of the Department of Health, 11 Councils, Primary Care Partnerships (PCPs) and private organisations would work closely with their communities to co-develop programs that catered to the needs of local farmers.
Agriculture Victoria said the Project would support farmers, farming communities and farming families to have increased capacity to manage stress and look after their wellbeing.
