Let's Talk Rural Mental Health
by Rural Adversity Mental Health Program
Each year, one in five of us will experience a mental health problem. Mental health problems are common but they are also treatable. Yet, if you live in the city, you are more likely to access help that if you live in a rural area of NSW. Welcome to ‘Let’s Talk’, a podcast series is hosted by journalist Kia Handley all about mental health in rural and regional Australia. Hear from people who have battled with their mental health, who have been through tragedy and have come out of the other side and also from some of the people who have helped them on their journey. We hope these podcasts inspire you and we encourage you to strike up a conversation about mental health with your colleagues, friends and family. We also encourage you to share these links.
Episodes
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S4 E6: Social media and your mental health
You have spent more time online in 2020 than ever before. COVID-19 left you home-schooling, connecting with friends using video chat and even working from your loungeroom when that's never really felt possible before. Social media became a lifeline to connect with others, but happens when social...
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S4 E5: Stress and decision making
Stress is something that's hard to avoid in life. Some stress is easy to get through and other times it can hang around you and start to rub off on other areas of your life. When you're feeling that, how do you make sure you stay mentally well and able to make decisions big and small day by day?...
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S4 E4: Helping the helpers
Your community is full of people who step up to lend a hand when others need it most. But the longer that goes, the harder the job is to keep everyone supported, the more strain those helpers can feel. As we rely on them, how can we make sure we're also helping the helpers stay mentally well....
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S4 E3: The Environment and your mental health
The environment is all around you every day. If you're a farmer you rely on the land to help you grow the best crop and feed your stock, if you live in town and you have a favourite park to sit in with your family or maybe it's just the part of nature from beach and bush that you love to explore...
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S4 E2: Perinatal Anxiety and Depression
This week is Perinatal Mental Health Week, so what better time to look at this issue affecting so many parents in your life. If you have welcomed a baby into your family you know about the challenges that brings as well as the love and the joy, but if you're feeling like it's all becoming too…
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S4 E1: Recovery after disasters
The summer of 2019 and 2020 was a horrific one in Australia. Drought meant the countryside was the direst it had been in decades and that led to a bushfire season that was unprecedented. Just as the rain started and recovery began in regional communities devastated by fire, COVID-19 paused the...
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Special: COVID-19 and your mental health
You've no doubt heard the saying 'unprecedented times' a lot right now. But it's the best way to put it. What you are living through is unlike anything ever experienced. It's scary and stressful. Full of uncertainty and loneliness. And it can put a strain on your mental health. So, what can you…
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S3 E6: Homelessness
Imagine your life without a safe place to sleep each night. How do you think that would affect your mental health? There is a lot of misconceptions about what homelessness looks like in 2019 and we need to break those down as we talk about mental health and having a place to live. In this episode...
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S3 E5: Masculinity and mental health
Men are three times more likely then women to take their own life. It's a fact that we need to talk about more as Aussie Blokes struggle with the idea of masculinity and what that looks like in 2019. But how can you help them? Two men are on a mission driven by the need to look after the men…
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S3 E4: Drugs, alcohol and your mental health
Your mental health can be impacted by so many things including an addiction to drugs and alcohol, and treatment isn't always straight forward as mental health workers weigh up what to treat first: the addiction or mental health. In a part of our society still so full of stigma and stereotype what...
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S3 E3: Low Prevalence Mental Health
You hear a lot about depression and anxiety in conversation about mental health, but where do low prevalent conditions like bipolar and schizophrenia fit into the picture. They may have lower diagnosis rates, but we know they take more complex care plans. We take a look at some programs offering...
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S3 E2: First Responders
Floods, fires, road accidents, storms, community tragedy - our first responders see a lot. They're on the front line whenever disaster strikes. But how good are we at looking after our emergency workers mental well being? In this episode you'll hear from two former first responders, both…
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S3 E1: Mental health of carers
Carers are incredible. Day after day they put their loved ones needs above their own. But what happens when the carer needs to be cared for? What can we do to make sure those who are caring for someone else know where they can go to get support, to meet people in a similar situation to them and...
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S2 E6: Mental health Champions
We want to finish season two by highlighting some good news stories taking place in mental health around regional Australia. Personal achievements, amazing programs and generational change that's being driven by everyday people just like you.
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S2 E5: Indigenous Mental Health
Indigenous Australians have higher rates of mental illness than the rest of the population. So what do we need to do to turn this around? How can we include Indigenous culture in mental health treatment to help break inter generational trauma? We explore this and more in this episode.
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S2 E4 - Men's mental health
Blokes, we need to talk! What damage is the old adage "real men don't cry" and "blokes need to be tough" meaning for the mental health of men in rural and regional Australia? We take a look at men's mental health and some initiatives being run around Australia to break down stigma.
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S2 E3 - Loneliness
If you've ever felt alone, how did it impact your mental health? In the age of social media it might surprise you to hear the rates of loneliness are increasing. As Australia's population ages, concerns of loneliness on mental health is increasing. We take a look at what's being done to address...
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S2 E2: LGBTIQ mental health
What are the challenges of the LGBTIQ community living in small towns in regional Australia? A lot of work is being done to support people who identify as LGBTIQ but when there's only one GP in town or coming out means the whole community knowing - how can you navigate that landscape.
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S2 E1 - Drought
In times of drought, farmers are often forced to make heart breaking decisions. So what impact can this have on the mental health of those living on the land. In this episode we look at the strain and what can be done to stay mentally healthy in trying times.
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S1 E6: What's a mental health peer worker?
People with lived experiences of mental health are being trained to support others at their lowest moments. They're called peer workers and the popularity of this position in workplaces is growing. So what is it and how can you get involved? We explore this issue in episode six.
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S1 E5: Rural suicide
If you leave in rural or regional Australia you are at a higher risk of suicide than your friends and family living in the city. So how can we save more lives? In this episode we take a look at this issue and hear from some of the speakers at a forum at this held earlier in the year at the Sydney...
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S1 E4: Transitioning to life on the land
What happens when you make a decisions to move from the big city to life on the land? Whether it's your first time or you're returning to the family farm it can be a huge challenge. So if services and support are limited, how can you make sure you and your family look after your mental health? We...
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S1 E3: Mentally healthy workplaces
How much time do you spend at work? Have you ever joked with your colleagues that you see them more than you do your family? You're not alone! So given that, what can we do to make our workplaces mentally healthy and create environments were you can be open, honest and supported when it comes to...
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S1 E2: Disasters, trauma and your mental health
Disaster can strike at any time. From car accidents to natural disasters we can find our mental health pushed and tested in many ways. So how did one couple cope with and recover after losing their house in a bushfire? And do you need to know about keeping yourself and those around you mentally...
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S1 E1: Talking to your GP
Sometimes the best person to help you can be right under your nose. So what role can your general practitioner play if you are struggling with your mental health or worried about someone in your family? Let's talk about your mental health and speaking to your GP.
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A preview of Let's Talk
October is Mental Health month, so each week we'll explore a different issue affecting the mental health of Australians living in rural and regional Australia. Hear from people who have lived experiences with mental health and the people trying to make a difference in our remote communities. Hit...
About this show
Each year, one in five of us will experience a mental health problem. Mental health problems are common but they are also treatable. Yet, if you live in the city, you are more likely to access help that if you live in a rural area of NSW. Welcome to ‘Let’s Talk’, a podcast series is hosted by journalist Kia Handley all about mental health in rural and regional Australia. Hear from people who have battled with their mental health, who have been through tragedy and have come out of the other side and also from some of the people who have helped them on their journey. We hope these podcasts inspire you and we encourage you to strike up a conversation about mental health with your colleagues, friends and family. We also encourage you to share these links.
Hosted by
Rural Adversity Mental Health Program