Farmers need to flick the switch to avoid depression

Doug Avery speaks to farmers at the Services and Citizen's Club in Dannevirke on Friday evening October 27.

The Dannevirke Services and Citizen's Club packed with about 200 farmers to hear Doug Avery, author of best-selling book The Resilient Farmer, talk about resilience on Friday, October 27.

In 90 minutes he mixed wisdom, humour, tragedy, example and experience to illustrate how people can be happy and secure by developing emotional intelligence.

Doug Avery has been in the depths of depression.

After eight years of drought in Marlborough he could see no way out. Then a friend suggested going to a lecture about using lucerne as the best use of meagre rainfall and it 'flicked a switch' in his thinking.

While lucerne came to transform the agricultural economy in Marlborough it also helped Doug develop a set of strategies to cope with depression and the events which fuel it. He calls it his 'go-to tool box'.

He told the Dannevirke audience that resilience - the capacity to deal with setbacks - develops in good times when you cultivate a range of relationships with people who can be relied upon to help in bad times.

He says everyone should have a mentor - someone who can give you honest assessment of your situation, like a helicopter hovering over your farm, then provide advice and support.

He drew on the metaphor of geese flying in V-formation behind the front flier, honking support and eventually taking over the responsibility to lead.

"Everyone needs mentor support and to take a rest once in a while," he said. "Farmers are frequently front fliers with no honking support."

Another tool was to embrace change. He said people are too often frightened of failure based on past experiences.

"If you try something you either win or you learn," he said. "No failure is ever wasted."
He said people need to have a future focus.

"If you don't have hope you are broken and you need help. The future takes care of the present," he said.

Organising your thoughts in the 'drafting section of the front paddock' processing part of the brain is essential to handle information, parking bad news in the holding pen for a while to consider options and gain advice, but not taking too long.

He said above all farmers had to laugh as often as they could - it's great for everyone.
Doug tours the country and cities telling his story trying to help people find hope, as Sir John Kirwin did.

He feels he is better off doing this than working on the farm which is in the hands of his son.

He constantly gets calls to mentor people who are 'broken' and he hopes he can help them flick the switch.

"There is no better feeling than this," he said.

"When circumstances beyond your control lead to crises - be it financial, climatic or personal stress - an experienced rural person is just a phone call away.

"Help is free and confidential."

Tararua co-ordinator Jane Tylee says the Trust can access funds to help people and communities get back on their feet. It also is currently running 'good yarn workshops' and provides other support independently and confidentially.

Contact using Freephone 0800 787 254.

HELPLINES

If you need to talk to someone, the following free helplines operate 24/7:
* Depression Helpline: 0800 111 757
* Lifeline: 0800 543 354 Need to talk? Call or text 1737
* Samaritans: 0800 726 666
* Youthline: 0800 376 633 or text 234