The Rural Psychologist

My big questions today is: What happens to the mental health and wellbeing of whole rural communities when governments make decisions that negatively impact them?High-quality government support acts as a buffer by fostering institutional trust and interpersonal trust, which in turn reduces mental distress. Conversely, when citizens perceive government interventions as inadequate in managing economic or social uncertainty, their trust plummets, leading to a marked deterioration in mental health.When governments and powerful institutions fail to protect people, deny reality, or cover up wrongdoing to protect their own reputations, it results in "institutional betrayal". When these patterns continue over time, the effects compound.We start to see:1. Declining trust People lose confidence in institutions, which affects everything from healthcare to elections – 2. Social fragmentation Communities become divided, often along ideological lines.3. Increased susceptibility to conspiracy thinking When official narratives are inconsistent, alternative explanations become more appealing.4. Learned helplessness People feel that nothing they do will change outcomes, so they disengage.This doesn’t just affect individuals—it weakens the functioning of society as a whole.In this podcast, we’re joined by Zara Lowien, Chief Executive Officer of the National Irrigators’ Council—an organisation at the forefront of one of Australia’s most important and often complex conversations: water. About how she sees the extraction of water from rural communities affecting the very fabric of those communities and the mental health and wellbeing.Zara brings a wealth of experience in public policy, advocacy, and stakeholder engagement, working at the intersection of government decision-making and the real-world needs of rural and regional communities. In her role as CEO, she helps guide the national voice of irrigators—supporting farmers and industries that quite literally help feed and clothe Australia, and millions more around the world.Her leadership comes at a time when water policy is under increasing pressure—from climate variability, competing environmental and agricultural priorities, and the ongoing evolution of frameworks like those shaping the Murray–Darling Basin. Under her leadership, the National Irrigators’ Council continues to play a critical role in shaping national conversations around water reform, climate policy, and the long-term resilience of irrigated agriculture.We talk not just about policy, but about people—about what’s at stake for rural communities, and how leadership, collaboration, and innovation can help secure a strong future for Australia’s irrigation sector.#theruralpsychologist #mentalhealth #ruralmentalhealth

Chantal takes the opportunity to record a speech she gave at a rural women's event recently when she was asked to remind rural women that their communities are only as strong as they are... And if your are waiting…Coaching Episode #3 will be out soon…

What possesses someone with a full life — a thriving psychology practice, three teenage daughters, and a farm far from any university — to take on a PhD at 48? In this episode, I share an honest, grounded account of what it’s really like to undertake a doctorate while living remotely, juggling family and work, and learning to persist without daily academic contact. Guided by the Japanese idea of wabi-sabi — moving forward without waiting for perfection — this conversation demystifies the PhD experience, explores the emotional and cognitive stretch involved, and reflects on why choosing the hard, meaningful path can reshape confidence, identity, and purpose. If you’ve ever wondered whether it’s “too late,” “too much,” or simply too hard — this one’s for you. (Thank you to the Cotton Research Development Corporation (CRDC) and CQUniversity for making a PhD possible).@further_a_field for more information on my life and work in organisational psychology. 

Are you a rural business struggling to fill job vacancies, or a mother who wants to go back to work but can’t find childcare? Then this interview is well worth a listen.This Interview is a fascinating insight into how Goondiwindi-based social enterprise entrepreneur, Angela Cochrane is solving the problem of childcare shortages to help rural businesses meet their productivity goals. Check out her Future Care Project here:Home | The Future Care Also check out Ange’s business here: https://www.brightlightinsight.com.au/In this podcast Chantal chats with Angela Cochrane from The Future Care Project a start-up social enterprise she has built and thrown herself into while caring for her three young children.What began as a little funded project with the Goondiwindi Chamber of Commerce nearly two years ago has evolved into a fulltime social enterprise business and full-heart passion project for Ange, as she tells the story of how childcare and a flourishing economy are very much connected.Without childcare, women cannot re-enter the workforce and this is proving a huge problem for businesses all around regional Australia who are desperate for workers.Angela has thrown herself in to solving this very big problem that not only affects mothers and families, but affects the whole Australian economy.You will be very inspired by this ball of rurally-based, entrepreneurial energy Angela Cochrane, and you will want to get behind her new social enterprise – The Future Care Project.Enjoy!

In this episode, Chantal provides advice for health professionals on how not to burn out; and then (at about the 10min mark for those who want to skip my don't burn out advice for health professionals and get straight to the good stuff!) has a great chat with two highly regarded mental health professionals who have lived and worked in rural Australia for a couple of decades. Enjoy!Guest profiles:Home - Rural Sky GoondiwindiRural Sky is situated in the heart of Goondiwindi, by the banks of the MacIntyre River, on Queensland’s Darling Downs. We are a private practice of mental health professionals, delivering services to the people in our favourite part of the world, in the place we call home.We are committed to excellence and pride ourselves on providing exceptional and confidential professional services in a warm and positive environment. Our team of highly skilled and experienced clinicians deliver psychological therapy to clients of all ages across the spectrum of emotional and behavioural difficulties. We provide services to individuals, couples, families and even organisations.Rural Sky also offers keynote presentations for events, along with workshops, psychometric testing and coaching to individuals and businesses with a desire to realise their potential and experience lasting success.Fundamental to our practice is that we live in the community that we serve. We understand what it means to live in a rural town. We understand distance, drought and flooding rains, small-town intricacies, local issues and services. We understand you! KATHERINE JOHNSTONEhttps://ruralsky.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Screen-Shot-2020-01-25-at-11.23.43-am.pngAbout Kath: Katherine Johnstone is an Accredited Mental Health Social Worker and co-founder of Rural Sky, a private practice based in Goondiwindi, Queensland. With over a decade of experience, Kath works with people across all stages of life—from young children to older adults—supporting them through life’s challenges, whether big, small, or somewhere in between.Rooted in a trauma-informed, evidence-based approach, Kath’s work is centred around helping people make sense of what they’re going through, reconnect with what matters to them, and move forward with confidence. She believes deeply in the power of rural communities and is passionate about ensuring mental health support is not only accessible, but also practical, respectful, and real.Outside of work, Kath enjoys exploring Australia and overseas, spending time with her family, and soaking up the simple joys of rural life—where the stars are brighter, the conversations deeper, and the work genuinely meaningful.SUZIE COLLINS, CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGISTAbout Suz: Suzie is passionate about supporting people, of all ages, to build resilience and overcome barriers that make life difficult.  Suzie draws upon a range of evidence based therapeutic models and specifically Eye Movement Desensitisation & Reprocessing (EMDR, EMDRAA Accredited Practitioner), Internal Family Systems (IFS, IFSI Level 1 trained), Gottman Method for Couples (Level 3 trained), Motivational Interviewing (Relapse Prevention) and TheraPlay (Level 1 trained).  She is also trained in Triple P Parenting (group), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Suzie uses a trauma informed and non-pathologising framework for therapy.Suzie’s 10+ years, of experience has provided her with the opportunity to work with a range of mental health presentations (e.g. trauma, addition, behavioural concerns, relationship difficulties, depression, anxiety, grief etc).  She has a particular interest in working with those who have experienced trauma.  She has en

Sarah Crosthwaite, Dairy Farmer, Nuffield Scholar, and Social Worker has just completed a tour around the globe as part of the Nuffield Scholarship in an effort to understand what's behind the mental health crisis among farmers worldwide.  I was both enlightened and intrigued by Sarah's insights into the pressures that create mental health issues for farmers around the world. I am sure you will be too. Read Sarah's Nuffield report here International Agricultural Research Reports | Nuffield Farming ScholarshipsWebsite to Sarah's counselling service link here:Home Page - Open Road Counselling

Rural Women Leading: Annabelle Hickson creator of Galah Magazine - a runaway success in the cutthroat world of media, on self-belief, failing fast & succeeding beyond our wildest imaginations.What will Galah Magazine creator-editor, Annabelle Hickson, do next?A mother of three, a farmer’s wife, a natural-born entrepreneur who lives down the country road from me on a pecan farm, and who seems so self-contained, so unhindered by the rules of life…I just simply had to interview her and find out what on earth makes her tick...what makes her so brave? How did she come to be in this world without caring a jot for whether she fails and falls or not? A woman, it seems, for whom the only thing that matters is following one’s passion with complete abandon, despite harboring some of the fears that hold most of us back from discovering our true selves and putting it at the centre of everything we do. What are the ingredients to living a life of unadulterated passionate abandon for the things one simply loves to do. Take no prisoners.  Total leaps of faith. Fail fast, get back up and carry on... And what will this, one of rural Australia's true female leaders and entrepreneurs, do next?  Introducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

Rural Women Leading #3: Claire Osborn Booth, one of rural Australia's principal Out-of-the-Box Thought LeadersGuerie solicitor, farmer, property developer, board director and formidable engineer of community well-being, Clare Osborn Booth talks about the 'enoughness' of being a mum, honoring the family unit, tax law (an obvious connection...) and how to develop derelict rural properties to build the future for your off-farm adult children and revitalize rural communities.It's a thought-provoking listen to say the least. You'd be crazy to miss it.https://boothlaw.com.au/ @boothlawadvisory  @buckenbah_collectiveIntroducing the Rural Psychologist Podcast

What is it really like to manage depression while living in the bush? This is the raw and honest tale of Lisa Jeitz and her journey to manage her depression while living, working and wrangling a young family on a farm in Western Australia. Thank you to Lisa for telling her story so that she can help others to find the language and courage to ask for help.

Rural Women Leading #1: Catherine Velisha - Managing Director of $30mil horticulture business talks about what gets her out of bed each day and how even the most successful people have to manage their mental health.Catherine Velisha is a third-generation owner of Velisha Farms, a horticulture business located in Werribee South Victoria – the Velisha family has been involved in the fresh produce for almost a century. Having worked in the farming industry for over 20 years, Catherine has grown and developed her expertise alongside an ever changing industry landscape. Catherine’s passion and advocacy for agriculture and the people who work in it, inspired the formation of VEG Education in 2020 - an RTO created specifically to facilitate horticulture/agriculture industry with training. VEG Education allows young people to gain practical insight, access, and experience in the Australian food sector, equipping them with the skills to make valuable contributions to farming as a business. The RTO also allows Catherine - and the broader industry - to create long-term sustainability by engaging with the public directly, whilst championing fresh produce and future-focused agricultural practices. 

Remember when the town's newspaper set the tone for a community? Each week we would wait to see who was on the front page and what event had flung them into the limelight. Who was the best footballer in the town and who was the local hero; which kids were going to grow up and be rocket scientists, and which had grown up to graffiti the toilets. Everything that had happened and everything that was going to happen was there each week for everyone in the community to see, know about, and discuss. We were all on the same page as such, and we all had the opportunity to support each other and know each other through the local 'rag'. The internet signaled the death knell for many papers and along with it the single point of community knowledge and wisdom that provided a subtle yet important role for all rural communities in binding us together and keeping us informed about what was important. Does the death of a town's newspaper have an effect? Does it really matter? Join me for a discussion with Damian Morgan, the man who has resurrected over 30 rural newspapers because he believes they are an integral part of the fabric of any rural community and wants to ensure they continue to a play role in informing and bringing together communities through the good times and the bad.   https://damianmorgan.com.au/Damian Morgan Damian Morgan is partner and director of the Today News Group which publishes 30 independent newspapers (and online news) across regional Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.   

Coaching Ep #2 Finding life direction, setting goals and being motivated in 2024Listen in to this episode, the second coaching episode for The Rural Psychologist podcast to learn the best way to go about setting goals for the new year to ensure you stay motivated  and enthusiastic right through to point where you achieve what you set out to do.

"You either walk inside your story and own it, or you stand outside and hustle for your worthiness" Brene BrownCoaching Ep #1 Setting yourself up for a successful mindset in the new yearBe sure to get on the front foot for the new year by listening to this episode and doing the important exercise that Chantal talks about for setting yourself up with a great mindset to help you feel more confident, self-assured and become clearer about what you want to achieve in 2024. 

Rural Women Leading #4: The original entrepreneur - Jane Campbell of Barambah Organics on the value of making sure people feel included, showing up with a smile on your face, and how she takes care of her mental healthhttps://mananapastoral.com.au/Long before it was trendy to be entrepreneurial in agriculture, Jane Campbell and her husband Ian, lead the way in setting up a phenomenally successful diary company, Barambah Organics, value adding to the milk they produced on their diary farm in Murgon, Queensland. This is a fabulous tale of hard work, and self-belief but also testimony to great values including humility, love of connection with people from all walks of life, and the might that comes with the meeting of intellect and agricultural practicality. @mananafarms @glenarbon

Coaching ep #3: What do I think is the most important skill for life satisfaction? Assertiveness. Listen to how to cultivate a mindset that grows this powerful communication skill today.Being able to say no, asserting yourself and asking for your needs to be met are all part of good self care which means good mental health. For tips and ideas on how to be more assertive listen to coaching episode 3 of The Rural Psychologist podcast today.