AGRIBUSINESS

New resource added to Lifeline

Lifeline launches new toolkit to help those assisting with mental health and crisis support.

Staff writer
 Lifeline has added a new resource to help those assisting with mental health and crisis support. Picture Mark Saunders.

Lifeline has added a new resource to help those assisting with mental health and crisis support. Picture Mark Saunders.

Available at https://toolkit.lifeline.org.au/ the new Support Toolkit is full of practical information in plain language, as well as the best curated tools, apps, techniques and services to help individuals take the next step in their wellbeing journey.

The Support Toolkit is also designed to help those supporting someone else in need. It provides tools and resources to help people understand and cater to the needs of someone in distress, while making sure they administer effective self-care at the same time.

The Toolkit follows recently-released research which highlighted the poor state of the mental health of Australia's farmers, with 30 per cent reporting a decline in their mental health over the past few years.

The National Farmer Wellbeing Report - commissioned by Norco (an Australian farmer-owned dairy co-operative) - in partnership with the National Farmers' Federation (NFF), found that in recent years, nearly half of Australian farmers (45 per cent) have felt depressed, with almost two thirds (64 per cent) experiencing anxiety.

Close to half of Australian farmers (45 per cent) have had thoughts of self-harm or suicide, while close to a third (30 per cent) have attempted self-harm or suicide.

Lifeline Australia chief executive officer, Colin Seery, said the Support Toolkit will enable the organisation to support people who wouldn't otherwise engage with mental health and crisis support.

"Our new Support Toolkit means help seekers at all stages of their journey can come to Lifeline to access help on their own terms. It helps people to make sense of their experience and take active steps to manage their wellbeing," Seery said.

"We know that a lot of people looking for help might not yet be comfortable involving another person in their situation. The Toolkit makes it easy for anyone who feels they are ready to take positive steps forward but doesn't know where to start."

Lifeline Australia executive director of Service Design and Delivery, Dane Glerum, said the Toolkit has been designed to support the formation of long-term behaviours and skills that build resilience and prevent crisis.

"We've learned help seekers can feel overwhelmed with how much information is out there, and often don't know where to turn," Glerum said.

"Australians have trusted Lifeline to provide support for over 60 years. We've curated our Toolkit to build on this sense of trust by providing access to practical information, tools and resources whenever and wherever they're needed.

"The site is designed to create an inclusive, accessible and personalised experience which allows people to engage at different points in their journey, find the next steps and have the option of coming back without having to restart the process."

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