Breaking barriers to support in rural communities

Teaming up with retail and digital service players will transform rural mental health, the Rural Support Trust says.

“We can now offer easier access to professional support when previously it may not have been possible due to access, cost and travel time,” says chair Michelle Ruddell.

“It’s a game changer for communities where getting to a counsellor might mean a two-hour round trip.”

The three-year partnership, announced at National Fieldays, involves Farmlands and digital wellbeing platform ignite, and will offer a free online mental health and wellbeing service for farmers and growers across New Zealand.

It will provide more than 1500 sessions through vetted counsellors, psychologists, career coaches, nutritionists and other wellbeing professionals who will be available online, by phone or in person via the ignite platform.

Technology provider ignite says the partnership is an opportunity to help provide support to a part of society that has traditionally been underserved.

“This is about helping rural communities connect to specialist mental health and wellbeing support areas that aren’t offered locally,” says director Sarina Finucane.

“This platform also offers more than just counselling.

“It’s holistic wellbeing, and alongside mental health providers users can book a session with a dietician, a business coach, or a financial mentor.

“It’s about resilience and growth, not just crisis support.”

Farmlands CEO Tanya Houghton says the co-op is proud to support the initiative.

"At Farmlands we know rural never rests, and rural communities shouldn't face the tough times alone.

"Our shareholders are farmers, growers and their families. Standing alongside them when life gets hard is what a co-operative does.

The barriers to mental health support in rural NZ are real: distance, cost, time off the farm, the discomfort of walking into a waiting room where everyone knows your name. This partnership takes those barriers away.

"With ignite's technology, farmers choose how they get support: in person or online, wherever they are. Even if that's the middle of a paddock.”

Rural Support Trust operates across 14 regions in New Zealand, providing free, confidential, one-on-one support to rural families.