Are you okay?

Are your bees okay?

Would you like someone to speak to about how you’re going?

When times get tough, it’s normal to need support, from your family, social network, GP or mental health professional. 

As a beekeeper you often work remotely, but you are never alone.

Beyond Blue support service suggests dealing with the emotional impact of a bushfire by:

• spending time with people who care
• give yourself time
• find out about the impact of trauma and what to expect
• try to keep a routine going
• talk about how you feel about what happened when you are ready
• do things that help you relax
• set realistic goals that keep you motivated, but don’t take on too much (most people in this situation talk of recovery as a journey not a sprint)
• review and reward progress – notice even the small steps
• be prepared for times when you feel you are making no progress, everyone experiences this
• talk about the ups and downs of recovery with friends, family and the health professionals involved in your care
• have a plan to maintain positive changes and plans to deal with times of stress or reminders of the trauma.

Beyond Blue outlines common reactions to drought and bushfire trauma and beyond common reactions for which you should seek help from a GP or mental health professional. Check the symptoms here: www.beyondblue.org.au/the-facts/bushfires-and-mental-health/

Health and well being

For access to local mental health services, please contact the organisations listed below.

For young people

headspace – phone 1800 063 267

Kids Helpline chat online or phone 1800 551 800. Anonymous and confidential telephone counselling anytime for everyone and for any reason.

Parent Helpline – phone 1300 364 100 Information and support on health, behaviour, development and parenting for parents and carers.

Youth Beyond Blue – chat online or phone 1300 224 636Help with anxiety and depression.

For everyone

Mensline Australia chat online or telephone 1300 789, 24 hours a day, 7 day  telephone counselling for men

Beyond Blue depression support, advice, action hotline. Chat online or telephone 1300 224 636

Lifeline Australia crisis support and suicide prevention. Chat online or telephone 13 11 14 

Australian Red Cross provides personal support during a disaster and an outreach service to affected households. Contact 1800 660 066

Suicide call back service free professional counselling 24 hours a day, 7 days a week across Australia. Chat online or phone 1300 659 467

Black Dog Institute Tel. 9382 4530

Open Arms – Support for current and ex-serving ADF personnel and their families. Free and confidential counselling, group treatment programs, suicide prevention training and our community and peer network to support mental health and wellbeing. Telephone 1800 011 046

State-specific support services

Healthdirect is a national, government-funded service, not-for-profit organisation providing quality, approved health information and advice. 

Reach out for a helping hand, or tarsi in this case.

Through their website they provide a detailed overview of mental health services in each state:

• New South Wales
• Victoria
• Queensland
• Australian Capital Territory
• Tasmania
• Western Australia
• Northern Territory
• South Australia

QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries support services – www.daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/disaster-recovery/natural-disaster/support-services

Western Australia to Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development Support Services – https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/climate-weather/support-services-directory 

NSW Department of Primary Industries support services – https://www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/climate-and-emergencies/droughthub/wellbeing

NSW Rural Resilience Program

The NSW DPI Rural Resilience Program has staff across NSW and can provide support by way of referrals, liaising with other services and delivering initiatives tailored to the particular need of the community and farming families. They work closely with other partners such as the NSW Rural Assistance Authority, Rural Financial Counsellors, the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) and the Local Lands Services to do this. 

Web www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/about-us/rural-support/rural-resilience-program 

NSW Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP)

RAMHP provides a range of information services to individuals, communities and service providers to link rural and remote people to the help they need. This includes information on where to access services, common mental illnesses and how to keep mentally healthy, as well as the Glove Box Guide to Mental Health. 

To find your nearest RAMHP Officer call 02 6363 8444 or go online: https://www.ramhp.com.au/

Acknowledgements:

This article was written by Elizabeth Frost and reviewed by Casey Cooper and Nadine Chapman.