The Open Road: "It's about supporting farmers' mental health" with Sarah Crosthwaite

Sarah Crosthwaite is a a rural mental health clinician from Northeast Victoria, and she has worked as a rural outreach counsellor to farmers across our region. The rest of the time she works with her husband and their team on our 550-cow dairy farm in the Kiewa Valley.Sarah Crosthwaite discusses her journey in addressing mental health issues within farming communities. She shares insights from her experiences as a rural outreach counselor, the challenges faced by farmers, and the importance of mental health support. The discussion covers her educational background, the impact of natural disasters on mental health, and the establishment of her counselling service, Open Road Counselling. Sarah emphasises the need for better access to mental health services and the importance of normalising conversations around mental health in agriculture.She's recently off the stage after presenting her Nuffield Scholarship in Tasmania, where she led with the question, ‘What can be learnt from international farming communities to improve and strengthen positive mental health outcomes for Australian primary producers?She has since set up her own business, Open Road Counselling, is a counselling service for farmers, their families, farm workers and anyone working with in the agricultural industry right across Australia. To find out more check out their website!Nuffield episode sponsor:A message from this episode sponsor, ANZ Agribusiness:Farming in Australia is never without opportunity, nor challenge. From season to season, and from day to day, producers manage a myriad of risks and rewards as they produce the vast range of commodities global markets now demand. At ANZ Agribusiness, we’ve been supporting farmers to take opportunities and manage through challenges for over 150 years. We’re a proud and long term partner of Nuffield Australia, supporting its goal of capacity building for producers, their businesses, industry and rural community. Our network of regionally based Agribusiness bankers are ready to support both our existing customers, and any farming business seeking a review of their banking arrangements at any time. Find your local ANZ Branch manager today. This episode of Humans of Agriculture is proudly brought to you by Rabobank, Australia's Most Recommended Agribusiness Bank for three consecutive years running.*Exciting news - Applications for the Rabobank Rural Community Hub Program are now open, Rabobank is awarding 10 grants of $10,000 to help improve rural community hubs and halls across regional Australia.These important community spaces play a vital role in bringing people together, strengthening connections, and supporting the wellbeing of regional communities.If your local hall or community hub could benefit from funding, now is the time to apply. Applications close on 30 August 2026.To learn more and apply, visit rabobank.com.au.*RFI Global Australian Banking & Finance Awards