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Otago Daily Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Otago Daily Times
Rural mental health advocate retires
After 18 years, a Southland man is stepping down from his role with Rural Support Trust, while still keeping his mental health workshop project, which he began in Gore. Wendonside-based Lindsay Wright is moving into retirement to spend more time with his grandchildren and other relationships, and is no longer a trustee of Rural South, which he has been with since its 2008 inception. Despite this move into retirement, he remained on the trust governing mental health literacy workshop GoodYarn, which he started with Southern health network WellSouth in 2014. Mr Wright said as a direct result of Rural Support's involvement in the 2010 Southland snowstorm response, he was invited to join with WellSouth to develop a mental health workshop for rural people in the Otago-Southland region. After the adverse weather event, he said WellSouth researched what information was available for rural people following adverse events and mental health challenges and there was "basically nothing". The network approached Mr Wright, who had a background in Toastmasters and education. He delivered the pilot workshop in Gore more than ten years ago. Now conversations around mental illness were more common, but he said at the time mental health was not something discussed openly. "It was just something that nobody talked about ... it was very difficult to have a conversation with anybody," he said. "We were just saying to people, it doesn't have to be difficult, it doesn't have to be clever, it's just about understanding that if you recognise that something's going on, then it's OK to talk about it." He said the now developed workshops were to help people recognise the signs and symptoms of mental illness, which was something he had experienced firsthand. In 2005 Mr Wright was a beef and lamb farmer when he experienced a bout of depression. "I got to the stage where I was in such a low point I had every job that I had to do was written on a post-it note," he said. Following this, he leased his farm and received counselling, which gave him tools he later applied to the workshops and his work at Rural South. "Everything I've done, all my experiences good and challenging throughout my life, have all been an apprenticeship for what I've been doing now." He said Rural Support remained a conduit for farmers experiencing mental health challenges or responding to adverse events, connecting them with the right help. "Our job is to sit with you as a rural person, talk about your particular situation and in consultation with you, help you find the appropriate services or professionals who can best help you."
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Boil water in effect for several towns in southeastern Mass. due to E. coli, coliform bacteria
A boil water order is now in effect for several towns in southeastern Massachusetts due to the presence of E. coli and total coliform bacteria in the water supply, public health officials said. Residents in the towns of Abington, Rockland, Pembroke, Hanson, Whitman, and some residents in Hingham, are being asked to boil water before drinking. The order went into effect on Friday. These towns are directly served by the Abington Rockland Joint Water Works public water supply, Lindsay Wright, director of Public Health and Emergency Management and a public health nurse for the town of Abington, said in a statement late Friday morning. The only residents in Hingham affected by this order are those on Abington Street near the Rockland line that are connected to Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works, officials said. 'Do not drink tap water unless it has been boiled for at least one minute,' Wright said. Residents are also being advised to use boiled or bottled water for drinking, cooking, brushing teeth, and cleaning and to discard any food, ice, or beverages made with tap water before May 14. 'We are taking corrective action and expect resolution within 48 to 72 hours,' Wright said. Residents 'will be notified as soon as the boil water order is lifted,' Wright said. For more information, visit the Abington town website and click on the link for the boil water order information. Anyone with questions may also call the Abington-Rockland Joint Water Works at 781-878-0901. This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
