Datamars Livestock in New Zealand is pleased to sponsor the third year of the New Zealand Rural Support Trust’s Time Out Tour – a nationwide series of events dedicated to enhancing the mental health and well-being of New Zealand’s farmers and rural communities.

What it’s all about

Farming is a wonderfully rewarding profession and way of life. While farmers take pride in their critical role within society, they also understand that this sector isn’t without its fair share of challenges.

Farmers can sometimes experience a combination of physical isolation, long work hours over long periods of time, lack of personal connection, climate vulnerability, as well as financial and regulatory stress, which can create unique challenges from a mental wellbeing perspective.

“Economic pressures on farmers and growers have intensified over the past few years,” explains Maria Shanks, General Manager of the NZ Rural Support Trust. “We’re currently seeing people with their heads down, just trying to get through the busy period, while others continue to struggle with reduced feed levels caused by the summer drought.”

It’s challenges like these that can have a big impact on mental health and wellbeing – a topic which has historically been swept under the rug.

‘You’ve got to function well to farm well’ is a key message of the Tour. Alongside sleep, nutrition and physical exercise, the Tour often discusses the importance of having time away from the farm to connect with others, help their community and engage in new and different things.

Matt Chisholm, NZ TV presenter turned sheep and beef farmer, has proudly signed up as the inaugural Ambassador for this nationwide event, leading it for the second year in a row.

Matt’s willingness to share his own experiences with mental health difficulties offers the community valuable insights on navigating these issues and finding a path forward. Because for Matt, “sharing works”.

“Tough times are normal; they affect all of us. And there is always a way through,” he said.

And it’s his goal with this tour is to inspire others to take a proactive approach to their well-being. He aims to help people better understand how to care for themselves, support those they care about, and find the right resources to lighten their load and navigate life’s ups and downs.

And so far, his story and the simple but effective resources discussed during the Tour events have been very well received.

The Tour’s impact

Last year, the NZ Rural Support Trust saw an increase in helpline calls following their events, which is a positive sign that we’re able to help. This year, the Tour continues to make a strong impact by exploring new engagement methods, including attending A&P shows and hosting insightful panel discussions.

“We received great feedback from National Fieldays,” said Maria. “One attendee who had attended the first panel session, not only reached out to their local industry body to suggest organising a similar event, but was also returning for the second session to gain more insights.”

She also observed that many attendees are enthusiastic about spreading the word to others. Even weeks after the events, they continue to share the advice with those who couldn’t attend.

As time goes on, it’s only gaining more and more traction. The Rural Support Trust noted that more rural professionals are attending these events to learn more about what they can do to help the community. At a recent event in the Waikato region, 100 rural professionals were present, gaining valuable insights on how to support clients seeking assistance.

“Our rural community has such a big responsibility on their shoulders caring for both life and land, and keeping their finances in the black,” says Nick De Ridder, Head of Sales NZ, for Datamars Livestock. “So it’s truly encouraging to see the industry taking proactive steps to support farmers better. Because when we invest in their well-being, we’re cultivating a future where both our industry and our communities can thrive.”

With 21 events happening in 2024, the Time Out Tour will continue to travel around New Zealand’s rural communities through to October.  Find out more, including dates and locations for the final events for 2024 at https://www.rural-support.org.nz/Time-Out-Tour