Drought pushes farmers' mental health to the brink across southern Australia
Farmers across southern Australia are counting the cost to their mental health as one of the worst droughts in living memory persists.
With parts of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales experiencing record-dry conditions over the past year or more, the battle to keep livestock alive and grow crops without decent rain has taken its toll on farmers and their families.
Advocates say while some regions are finally starting to see some rain in winter, mental health in the farming community could take years to recover.
Steph Schmidt is a psychologist who also farms at World's End in South Australia's Mid North.
"It's been a really long, hard slog — at the moment, every area of agricultural South Australia is really struggling in one way or another," Ms Schmidt said.
"We've got three young boys and a mixed sheep and cropping farm, and it's the daily decisions, or what are the decisions going to be in another couple of weeks' time if the rains don't come [that are difficult].
Ms Schmidt wanted farmers to feel comfortable acknowledging their struggles.
"There is that stereotype that farmers and rural people are resilient, and we just get on with it, but helping people validate that it's OK when we're not OK [is important]," she said.
"It is so hard at the moment, and if you're really struggling, then that's OK and understandable as well.
Ms Schmidt has been travelling the state delivering mental health workshops for farmers and their families.
"We've been full booked because everyone's just going, 'We need to be doing something,'" she said.
"Often there's that realisation that, 'Oh, I'm not the only one experiencing this' … that validation of just how hard it is."
As farmers sell off livestock because of a lack of feed or gamble with planting crops into dry soil in the hope of decent rain, mental health services are in increasing demand.
Clinical psychologist Kate Gunn founded the online farmer mental health resource ifarmwell, which has doubled in use in the past year.
"Farmers are increasingly realising that wellbeing is something worth investing time in and that it's something they aren't necessarily experts in addressing themselves," Dr Gunn said.
"The impact of prolonged drought on farmers' mental health is quite severe.
"The thing that creates the most stress is uncertainty."
She said there were many resources out there for farmers, but also their families, who often felt the toll of tough times.
"Sometimes it's really hard to know which ones to go to first, but I usually recommend … go to your GP, express the fact that you think you need some help, and usually they're the best ones to be across what's available in your local area," Dr Gunn said.
Regional charity Rural Aid offers free mental health programs, including one-on-one professional counselling via on-farm visits and regular check-in calls.
Chief executive John Warlters said it had experienced a 55 per cent rise in new mental health referrals in the past year.
"We've seen a real upswing of calls and people reaching out … particularly in the last month — it's almost on a weekly basis there's half a dozen to a dozen people jumping on the phones, wanting [help]," Mr Warlters said.
"It's symptomatic of them reaching a point where they've been really tested from a financial perspective, tested emotionally, and they've cleverly or wisely recognised, 'Maybe I do need a bit of help and support.'
"I'm pleased people are reaching out — I'm just very concerned given the circumstances of what's prompted them to reach out and this ongoing drought."
Andrew Shepherd's farm is located in a usually reliable rainfall area in SA's South East, but he has been confronted by dry paddocks at the start of winter.
"I think if we'd tried to tell our kids 10 years ago that we'd be where we are now, no-one would believe us," Mr Shepherd said.
"We've been through dry periods before, but not for this long and not to this extent."
Last year, Mr Shepherd and some mates set up a Naracoorte chapter of Fat Farmers — a tongue-in-cheek name for an exercise group set up by farmers to encourage physical exercise for its mental health benefits.
Fat Farmers now has numerous groups across SA and is working to expand nationally.
"Anyone that's doing any running or any sort of sport … you feel better," Mr Shepherd said.
"Doing it in a group of people, we're talking, we're out there, we're getting off the farm, we're getting away from the stress, especially of what's happening out here at the moment."
He encouraged other farmers to take what time they could to look after their mental health, and not feel as though they had to do it alone.
When drought-breaking rain finally arrives, Dr Gunn warns it will not wash away the lingering impacts of years of drought.
"It doesn't wash all the worries away, unfortunately," she said.
"Farmers will still have debt that they have to service, it'll take a long time to rebuild stock, it'll take a long time for crops to grow, for that grain to end up in the silo and them to be paid.
"If it rains, that'll be great and it will certainly give people hope, but it doesn't translate immediately to zero mental health problems."
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ABC News
10 hours ago
- ABC News
Drought pushes farmers' mental health to the brink across southern Australia
Farmers across southern Australia are counting the cost to their mental health as one of the worst droughts in living memory persists. With parts of South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales experiencing record-dry conditions over the past year or more, the battle to keep livestock alive and grow crops without decent rain has taken its toll on farmers and their families. Advocates say while some regions are finally starting to see some rain in winter, mental health in the farming community could take years to recover. Steph Schmidt is a psychologist who also farms at World's End in South Australia's Mid North. "It's been a really long, hard slog — at the moment, every area of agricultural South Australia is really struggling in one way or another," Ms Schmidt said. "We've got three young boys and a mixed sheep and cropping farm, and it's the daily decisions, or what are the decisions going to be in another couple of weeks' time if the rains don't come [that are difficult]. Ms Schmidt wanted farmers to feel comfortable acknowledging their struggles. "There is that stereotype that farmers and rural people are resilient, and we just get on with it, but helping people validate that it's OK when we're not OK [is important]," she said. "It is so hard at the moment, and if you're really struggling, then that's OK and understandable as well. Ms Schmidt has been travelling the state delivering mental health workshops for farmers and their families. "We've been full booked because everyone's just going, 'We need to be doing something,'" she said. "Often there's that realisation that, 'Oh, I'm not the only one experiencing this' … that validation of just how hard it is." As farmers sell off livestock because of a lack of feed or gamble with planting crops into dry soil in the hope of decent rain, mental health services are in increasing demand. Clinical psychologist Kate Gunn founded the online farmer mental health resource ifarmwell, which has doubled in use in the past year. "Farmers are increasingly realising that wellbeing is something worth investing time in and that it's something they aren't necessarily experts in addressing themselves," Dr Gunn said. "The impact of prolonged drought on farmers' mental health is quite severe. "The thing that creates the most stress is uncertainty." She said there were many resources out there for farmers, but also their families, who often felt the toll of tough times. "Sometimes it's really hard to know which ones to go to first, but I usually recommend … go to your GP, express the fact that you think you need some help, and usually they're the best ones to be across what's available in your local area," Dr Gunn said. Regional charity Rural Aid offers free mental health programs, including one-on-one professional counselling via on-farm visits and regular check-in calls. Chief executive John Warlters said it had experienced a 55 per cent rise in new mental health referrals in the past year. "We've seen a real upswing of calls and people reaching out … particularly in the last month — it's almost on a weekly basis there's half a dozen to a dozen people jumping on the phones, wanting [help]," Mr Warlters said. "It's symptomatic of them reaching a point where they've been really tested from a financial perspective, tested emotionally, and they've cleverly or wisely recognised, 'Maybe I do need a bit of help and support.' "I'm pleased people are reaching out — I'm just very concerned given the circumstances of what's prompted them to reach out and this ongoing drought." Andrew Shepherd's farm is located in a usually reliable rainfall area in SA's South East, but he has been confronted by dry paddocks at the start of winter. "I think if we'd tried to tell our kids 10 years ago that we'd be where we are now, no-one would believe us," Mr Shepherd said. "We've been through dry periods before, but not for this long and not to this extent." Last year, Mr Shepherd and some mates set up a Naracoorte chapter of Fat Farmers — a tongue-in-cheek name for an exercise group set up by farmers to encourage physical exercise for its mental health benefits. Fat Farmers now has numerous groups across SA and is working to expand nationally. "Anyone that's doing any running or any sort of sport … you feel better," Mr Shepherd said. "Doing it in a group of people, we're talking, we're out there, we're getting off the farm, we're getting away from the stress, especially of what's happening out here at the moment." He encouraged other farmers to take what time they could to look after their mental health, and not feel as though they had to do it alone. When drought-breaking rain finally arrives, Dr Gunn warns it will not wash away the lingering impacts of years of drought. "It doesn't wash all the worries away, unfortunately," she said. "Farmers will still have debt that they have to service, it'll take a long time to rebuild stock, it'll take a long time for crops to grow, for that grain to end up in the silo and them to be paid. "If it rains, that'll be great and it will certainly give people hope, but it doesn't translate immediately to zero mental health problems."
News.com.au
10 hours ago
- News.com.au
New SA food and drink policies to tackle obesity
A new approach to tackling childhood obesity in South Australia is being applauded by one of the key policy-shapers at the state's independent health and medical research institute. Professor Caroline Miller, the director of SAHMRI's Health Policy Centre, says the state government's move to ban the advertising of unhealthy food and drink products on government-owned public transport is a 'step in the right direction' to help curb diet-related health issues. The Restriction of Unhealthy Food and Drink Advertising on SA Government Transit Assets policy, set to come into effect from July 1, prohibits a range of junk food items from being displayed on Adelaide's buses, trains and trams. Chocolate, lollies, desserts, ice creams, soft drinks and chips will all be among the products banned from display, with the measure designed to limit children's exposure to unhealthy food and drink advertising. According to the National Health Survey 2021-22, almost 66 per cent of Australian adults and 28 per cent of children are considered to be overweight or obese. Professor Miller says there is immense pressure on health systems 'struggling to manage demand from burdens of chronic diseases' – making the advertising restrictions a welcome move. 'I'm supportive of the decision to restrict unhealthy food and drink advertising on government public transport assets,' she says. 'This policy is about protecting children's health, preventing future obesity and diet-related chronic diseases.' Professor Miller says there are clear links between advertising, unhealthy eating and disease onset. 'Australia's children are currently getting between a third and 40 per cent of their daily intake from 'discretionary' foods,' she says. 'Research shows us that children are inundated with advertising for unhealthy food and drinks as they go about their daily lives. 'We know that exposure to unhealthy food advertising leads to higher intake of these foods. Higher intake of unhealthy food and drinks contributes to overweight and obesity and diet-related chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. 'For individual people and families this impacts on their daily living and their wellbeing. 'It means they are dealing with the management and treatment of those illnesses, and very sadly people are losing their family members early.' The World Health Organisation and Australia's leading health agencies – as well as Australia's National Obesity and Preventive Health strategies – all recommend a comprehensive suite of policies to reduce children's exposure to unhealthy food and drink marketing, Professor Miller says. 'We all want to live in communities that support people to be active, healthy and well. But right now, the environment that surrounds us is putting our health at risk. This policy is a step in the right direction. 'Sadly, overweight and obesity have overtaken tobacco smoking as Australia's leading causes of illness and premature death. 'Two thirds of adults and one in four children are living with overweight and obesity and this has risen dramatically in recent decades. 'This is major public health problem that warrants public health solutions.' Professor Miller says dietary intake is heavily influenced by a food environment that is 'readily available, affordable and heavily marketed to us'. 'Unfortunately, ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks are cheap, readily available and heavily promoted,' she says. 'Unhealthy food environments also work against parents – they make it harder for parents who are trying to curb the amount of unhealthy food their kids consume, when kids 'pester' their parents for food they see advertised. 'Unhealthy food environments also make it harder for adults who are trying to eat healthily, if healthy choices are not readily available at reasonable prices in a range of settings.' Nutritious eating linked to academic advances New recommended food and drink standards are introducing good eating decisions and habits to school-age children to support improved academic outcomes. The Right Bite food and drink supply standards, developed in partnership with Preventive Health SA, assists any South Australian government schools to select food and drinks to provide or supply to students. The standards promote healthy eating through classifying products into four categories according to their nutritional value – green (fruits, vegetables, cereals), amber (processed meats, full-fat dairy and snack foods), red one (cakes and pastries) and red two (soft drinks, chocolate and lollies). The standards recommend school menus supply 60 per cent of food and drinks from the green category and 40 per cent from the amber category. Red one products should be limited to twice per term while red two food and drinks should not be supplied. 'Research consistently shows that healthy eating is linked to better academic outcomes,' says Dr Natasha Schranz, director engagement and wellbeing, Department for Education. 'Forty per cent of a child's daily energy intake occurs at school, which means schools do play that critical role in creating, promoting and modelling healthy eating behaviours. 'The Right Bite standards assists schools with decisions around food and drink choices wherever food is provided or sold. 'Providing healthier food options in schools helps to create that positive food culture, leading to improved healthy outcomes.' Students embracing a healthy diet in school are in turn spreading a positive eating message to friends and family out of school. 'We know that it's not necessarily individualised behaviour but the environments within which we live, work and play that drive our choices, and so creating healthy eating environments is pertinent to supporting a healthy diet,' Dr Schranz says. 'This is what the Right Bite guidance does: it helps to create that school environment that promotes those food choices for students and also their families, because they're also interacting with things like the canteen menu. It's role modelling healthy eating choices out to families as well.' Right Bite has been well received by schools in South Australia, with more than 30 per cent of canteen managers engaging in online training, more than 200 canteen guides released and many schools using the online resources and tools. 'It's not a mandatory policy – we put the information out to sites and support them to implement within their local context,' Dr Schranz says. 'It can be harder for some sites if they're starting with more challenges than others. Our advice is to start small – don't try to do everything at once. 'We know it can be challenging to shift practices but taking small steps is a great way to start. Maybe it's trying to green up items already on the canteen or OSHC menu, such as adding more salad to products or changing how it's cooked.' As well as changing what's on canteen and tuckshop menus, the Department supports schools other strategies to ensure their students can access and learn about foods that help them thrive. School breakfast programs are encouraged and supported to offer staple foods such as cereal, bread, milk and fruit, while food security grants are offered to schools to address food insecurity, such as building school gardens and cooking programs, and curriculum resources are developed to guide teachers with up-to-date and engaging information. Calls to junk the junk A new partnership between Preventive Health SA and the Department for Infrastructure and Transport aims to create a healthier South Australian community. From July 1, unhealthy food and drink advertising will be prohibited on public transport to reduce its exposure to South Australians. 'We know from decades of research that exposure to unhealthy food advertising is linked with unhealthy eating behaviours,' Preventive Health SA chief executive Marina Bowshall says. 'This is particularly evident for children, so we need to take action.' Around two thirds of the adult population and one third of children are living with overweight or obesity, a factor leading to significant health complications. 'Obesity has now overtaken tobacco as the leading cause of burden of disease,' Bowshall says. 'With 13 per cent of hospital admissions for adults aged 45 to 79 years due to overweight and obesity, we need to look at ways to reduce this. 'How food is marketed, packaged, priced and formulated is the most significant factor impacting overweight and obesity.' The new policy has had positive results in other jurisdictions including London and Amsterdam. 'The modelling from London is very positive and predicts incidences of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease will decrease, which in turn will result in important health and economic gains,' Bowshall says.
ABC News
a day ago
- ABC News
SA ambulance ramping surges to third-highest level on record as government 'falls desperately short' of its promise
South Australian patients spent 4,791 hours ramped in ambulances outside public hospitals in May — more than one thousand hours higher than the previous month — as the health system continues to struggle despite billions in extra funding. Two days after releasing a state budget with $1.9 billion in additional money for health, the state government on Saturday published data revealing May was the third-worst month for ambulance ramping in SA since records began in July 2017. The amount of time ambulances spent waiting outside public hospitals to discharge patients increased from 3,700 hours in April to 4,791 in May. The result is roughly in line with the 4,773 hours recorded in May 2024, which preceded a winter surge that saw ramping reach record levels in June (5,539) and July (5,284) of that year. Health Minister Chris Picton said public hospitals were under "significant pressure" last month. "But we've got people stuck in hospital that don't need to be there because they're waiting for a federal aged-care bed." There are 243 elderly patients in SA's public hospitals awaiting an aged care bed, according to the state government. The Royal Adelaide Hospital recorded the biggest spike in ramping hours last month, jumping from 1,194 to 1,698 hours, while the Flinders Medical Centre also spiked from 1,021 to 1,318. Ambulance response times to call-outs also worsened slightly in May. The percentage of priority two call-outs met within the benchmark 16 minutes decreased from 67.7 per cent in April to 60 per cent in May. Priority one call-outs — triaged for a response within eight minutes — stayed the same, with 72.3 per cent of calls met on time. The Malinauskas government highlighted that the May 2025 response times are significantly improved on its early months in office — in May 2022, 54.9 per cent of priority one call-outs and 34.8 per cent of priority two call-outs were being met on time. The head of South Australia's paramedics union said today's ramping figures have given him "grave concerns" about the winter months ahead. Paul Ekkelboom, general secretary of the Ambulance Employees Association (AEA), said his members were also "very frustrated" with the situation. "I get messages every day from regional and metropolitan crews about the extended … hospital ramp times they're having," he said. Asked about the outlook for the next few months, Mr Ekkelboom said: "I've got some grave concerns, obviously." He said the current ramping levels were only around 700 to 800 hours below last year's record numbers and "we've not even hit winter". "If something's not done dramatically, then I think it's going to be even worse than what we saw last year, and that's detrimental to people in the community," he said. The Malinauskas government has invested an additional $9 billion in the state's health system since coming to office in March 2022, according to the state budget papers released on Thursday. Labor won the 2022 election with a core pledge to "fix the ramping crisis" through new spending on hospital beds, ambulances and staff. Opposition health spokesperson Ashton Hurn said the government was falling "desperately short" of its promise. "Labor are now three quarters of the way through their term in office and we're yet to see any green shoots when it comes to delivering on their number-one election promise which was to fix ramping," she said. "We really need to move away … from looking at the statistics here and actually remember what this means for people. "What this means is that sick South Australians are left stranded outside of our hospitals desperate to get in for the care that they need." But the Health Minister said the government was "throwing the kitchen sink" at the problem. "We are opening additional beds which has been called for for years and years and years. "We're putting extra into mental health which has been called for for years and years and years, we've hired an additional, above attrition 2,800 extra doctors, nurses, paramedics and allied health professionals. "But we've got a blockage at the other end of the system that is depriving us of that, so every bed that we're opening is pretty much being filled with an aged care resident that can't get into aged care." Thursday's state budget revealed that demand on public health services is estimated to have grown by more than 4.5 per cent in 2024-25, with the government stumping up $1.7 billion over five years just to cope with increasing demand. The state government says it is building and opening more than 330 new hospital beds across Adelaide in 2024 and 2025.
