Farmers Lead Mental Health Support Program For Drought-Affected Communities
Thanks to funding from Preventive Health SA, Farm Life psychologist Steph Schmidt has created an online information hub and print version of The Farm Life Handbook, packed with strategies for managing stress and building resilience.
This resource is for anyone living and working in rural or regional areas – farmers, families, frontline workers, and community members navigating tough times.
Steph says, “Whether you’re feeling flat, burned out, or just want to strengthen your mental wellbeing, this is for you.
“As a farmer living through drought myself, I know how exhausting and isolating it can be. That’s why it means so much to share resources built on both research and lived experience – practical tools that really work on the ground.
It’s exciting to see these resources reaching farmers across South Australia, offering practical and effective strategies shaped directly by the first-hand knowledge of the challenges of farming life. Â
Our goal is to not only educate, strengthen wellbeing and raise awareness in communities, but also to up-skill everyone in how they can take care of themselves, support others and connect with what help is out there and accessible to them.”
Community Workshops For South Australia’s Drought-Affected Regions
The resources will be shared at community workshops run by partners including Breakthrough Foundation and Skylight Mental Health, as well as at training events across drought-affected regions.
Over the next 12 months, funding will also enable at least eight Men’s Table programs to be established, starting in the South-East before expanding to other drought-impacted regions.
You can check out The Farm Life Handbook’s digital hub here.
