Health
1News

'A stressful place to be' - women on farms want better mental health services

February 1, 2019

Seven Sharp’s Mike Thorpe met with North Canterbury farmer Cheyenne Wilson. (Source: Other)

The leader of a support group for rural women wants to see easier access to mental health services for women on farms.

TVNZ1's Seven Sharp reports a recent study of wellbeing in younger farmers suggested share milking and contract milking is the most challenged in agriculture.

And the most challenged of younger farmers are women, according to the survey.

Chanelle O'Sullivan runs Farming Mums NZ, an online support network with nearly 12,000 members and a direct line to rural mental health.

"What's happening in rural areas with women isn't good enough," Ms O'Sullivan said.

Cheyenne Wilson is a 25-year-old who has taken on one of the most challenging roles in dairying - dairy manager.

"This is my sixth season dairy farming, my first season managing," Ms Wilson said.

"Huge stress, huge debt. Yeah, can definitely be a huge burden."

But as tough as this job is, she said she'll "potentially start looking into buying some stock".

Ms O'Sullivan said: "You're financially, emotionally, mentally invested in that property. It's a stressful place to be."

When it comes to rural mental health Ms Wilson said she feels that women on farms "have definitely been left out a little bit, and I do feel like we face different challenges to males".

Ms O'Sullivan agreed, saying in the life of a rural woman a six-week wait for counselling, or having to drive two hours into town to receive it, is not really practical.

And time away from the farm can both cause stress, and relieve it, "because with farming you're often living where you're working - so there's no escape for husband or wife," she said.

Meanwhile, younger farmers like Ms Wilson are prioritising their mental health.

"You get up and you're milking those cows and watching that sun rise, and it's pretty cool. It's why you get out of bed," she said.

SHARE ME

More Stories