Three workshops designed to tackle tough questions have been scheduled to take place in the Hauraki district next month.
Rural Support Trust’s GoodYarn workshops will be held in Paeroa, Ngatea, and Waihi, and anyone living or working in the rural community, including farmers, farm workers, rural employers, contractors, stock agents, rural consultants and agribusiness professionals are invited to attend.
They are hands-on workshops which help people discuss mental well-being openly and effectively with friends, family and farming colleagues.
“It’s really difficult to have those conversations with people we care about, but this gives you the practical tools to do that, and gives you the confidence to have that conversation,” trust coordinator Wanda Leadbeater told The Profile.
The workshops also help participants recognise signs of stress and other mental health problems, reduce and manage stress, and find appropriate support services.
They are run by experienced facilitators and host a maximum of 20 people.
“We purposely keep it small so we can have really honest conversations,” Wanda said.
“It’s really important that everyone can be heard.”
The workshops are run in support of the Hauraki District Council’s ‘Elephant in the Paddock’ campaign, a project aimed at tackling tough questions and issues facing farming communities.
The campaign began in 2017 when council teamed up with a number of rural support agencies to check in on the wellbeing of rural communities.
Championed by former Plains Ward Councillor Gill Leonard, the project encouraged rural people to talk about the effects of unhealthy stress or depression and provided information on what to do if they had any concerns and where to get help.
DETAILS: GoodYarn workshops will be held at: Ngatea War Memorial Hall, Monday, March 15 at 10:30am; Paeroa War Memorial Hall, Tuesday, March 16 at 10:30am; and Waihi Memorial Hall, Wednesday, March 17 at 10:30am. Spaces are limited, register at Trybooking.co.nz (keyword: GoodYarn).
By KELLEY TANTAU
