8 minute read
Regional mental health
BY SAM GRUBIŠA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, VEGETABLESWA
During times of crisis, we need to pull together! We need to support each other! We need to remember who we are and why we do this! Yes, it puts money in our pockets, sends our kids to school and puts food on our tables, but for most of us…it’s in our blood!
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3 SEEKING support is not a weakness…it’s a necessity. The call of the land is strong, I can personally attest to that, but I know the people who work it are stronger. With the hardships we are facing during this trying time of the ‘COVID New World’ we need each other more than ever. Only those with dust on their boots and dirt beneath their nails know how truly hard life on the farm can be, but they also know they wouldn’t want any other life! That said, the path that precedes the bite of the ‘Black Dog’ can be followed like a well-worn dirt track. From childhood boys are taught to keep their emotions in check. To be tough. That if there is a problem, you get on and fix the damn thing…don’t waste time talking about it. As they grow into men and have families or take over the family business, the burden of being the protector and the provider grows; so does this amour of silence. With the passing of time, the obligation of responsibility escalates and the ability to reach out fades. It is the refusal to crack under pressure, the decades of masculine calibration, the self-imposed silence that leads to the point of no return. It is this silence that isolates and denies options, leaving ending a life as the only choice. Men in regional and rural areas are found to suffer more from negative mental health pressures, issues and outcomes in comparison to those in metropolitan WA. There are a number of pressures that work to deteriorate the mental health of males in rural and regional areas; these include ongoing financial insecurity, social isolation, over-working and environmental stressors (e.g. weather and natural disasters impacting productivity and therefore livelihood). The most horrifying statistic is that two thirds of farmers who take their own lives, are the owner/managers of agricultural properties aged 55–64. This is of particular concern to the likes of myself, as I know you guys, I’ve worked alongside you guys and we can’t afford to lose the wealth of knowledge many of the men lost to mental health take with them. However, what they take with them is nothing compared to the loss felt by those left behind. The crop is not the only living thing that needs your attention in times like these, so do your neighbours, your mates and most importantly yourselves. Seeking support is not a weakness…it’s a necessity. We can’t lose blokes like you…we’d all bloody starve! For a better understanding of how men are ‘wired’, check out Episode 147 of the WA Real podcast, hosted by our very own Bryn Edwards; or visit https://
wareal.com.au/
Men’s health questionnaire
Your GP is a great resource to get a preventative health check or to talk with about any symptoms you might actually be currently experiencing. Please complete the following questionnaire and if you answer NO to any of the questions
we encourage you to make an appointment with your GP.
1. Have you visited your GP in the last 6 months? 2. Have you had your blood pressure measured in the last 6 months? 3. Have you had your cholesterol levels measured in the last 12 months? 4. Have you had your blood sugar measured in the last 12 months? 5. Have you had your skin checked in the last 12 months? 6. Have you had your waist measured in the last 12 months? 7. Have you had a bowel test in the last 3 years? 8. Have you spoken to your GP about bowel health? 9. Have you spoken to your GP about prostate health? 10. Do you get 7–9 hours of sleep per night? 11. Do you do moderate-intensity exercise for 30mins at least 5x a week? 12. Do you eat 5 serves of vegetables and 2 serves of fruit daily? 13. Do you have at least 2 alcohol free days per week? 14. Do you make choices that keep you safe from harm? 15. Do you feel that you have strong positive relationships in your life? 16. Are you a non-smoker? 17. Are you happy in general? Not too stressed or worried? 18. Are you comfortable for asking for help when you are feeling down? Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No
FOR MENTAL HEALTH ASSISTANCE, CONSIDER CONTACTING ANY OF THE BELOW ORGANISATIONS
The Regional Men’s Health Initiative Rural West
Mensline Australia
Man Therapy
Mensplace
Australia Men’s Shed Association — WA Men’s Sheds
The MensWork Project
The ManKind Project P: (08) 9690 2253 W: www.regionalmenshealth.org.au Chris Puckridge P: 0429 987 762 W: www.ruralwest.com.au
P: 1300 789 978 W: www.mensline.org.au
P: 1300 222 638 W: www.mantherapy.org.au P: (08) 6164 0290 W: www.mensplace.net.au
P: 1300 550 009 W: www.mensshed.org
P: (08) 337 8434 W: www.mensworkproject.org
P: 1300 948 947 W: www.mkpau.org Raising awareness of men’s wellbeing Long term financial sustainability support for Primary Production enterprises A professional telephone and online support and information service for Australian men A place for men to deal with manly issues in a manly way Aims to support and enable men to address relationships and family issues The modern Men’s Shed is an updated version of the shed in the backyard that has long been a part of Australian culture A not-for-profit group offering a range of programs, groups and services A network of autonomous men’s groups, communities and training centres Did you know? • 1 in 7 men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer before the age of 75. • Skin cancer is the most common cancer in men aged 18–39. • 1 in 2 men will have a significant mental health issue at some point in their life. Many health issues are preventable if you seek help early.
RESOURCES
• WA Real — Find Yourself in Real Stories:
https://wareal.com.au/
• Men’s Health and Wellbeing Western
Australia
Phone (08) 9218 8044 or email admin@menshealthwa.org.au or go to
www.menshealthwa.org.au • The Blokes’ Book www.menshealthwa.org.au/wp-content/ uploads/2016/10/The-Blokes-Book-2016. pdf
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Is HARPS required for my business?
HARPS is a retailer led scheme designed to assist with compliance to food safety, legal and trade legislation for suppliers to t he major grocery retailers in Australia
Tier 1
Your business has a Vendor or Supplier Number to a HARPS Participating Retailer*.
Action required
Your business requires HARPS approval, this includes certification to an approved GFSI Scheme** and the HARPS requirements.
GFSI Scheme AND HARPS
Tier 2
Your business packs or repacks any of the following: • Loose product with PLU/
DataBar stickers applied as specified by a HARPS
Participating Retailer*; • Retail branded pre packs; • Retail Returnable Plastic
Crates (RPC’s); • Proprietary branded pre packs; • Loose product in final retail packaging, packed to a retail specification destined for a HARPS Participating
Retailer*;
OR
Your business is an Approved Supplier to a Tier 1 business, who supplies to a HARPS Participating Retailer* (in final retail packaging);
OR
Your business provides Support Services
Action required
Your business requires HARPS approval, this includes certification to an approved GFSI Scheme** and the HARPS requirements.
GFSI Scheme AND HARPS
Tier 3
Your business supplies bulk produce (not in final retail packaging) for further packing to a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier;
OR
Your business is a low volume producer supplying a total of 10 pallets or less per calendar year, per site. This is a collective total across all HARPS Participating Retailers*. (NB: Suppliers of retail branded pre packs are excluded from this rule as they qualify as a Tier 1 or Tier 2 supplier). When a sales transaction (i.e. you do not handle the product) is made from one wholesaler to another wholesaler, the seller does not require HARPS approval, only certification to the approved GFSI Scheme.
Action required
Your business is required to be certified to an approved GFSI Scheme**.
GFSI Scheme
Out of Scope
Your business processes fresh produce (e.g. value adding such as bagged salads, fresh cuts, sliced mushrooms/ carrots, shelled nuts etc.). Your business requires food safety certification to a scheme as required by your retailer customer.
OR
Your business is a virtual broker (agent or merchant) that does not qualify as a Tier 1, 2 or 3 supplier (i.e. you do not physically handle the product).
Action required
No action required for HARPS.
NO ACTION
* HARPS Participating Retailer(s): ALDI, Coles, Costco, Hellofresh, Metcash (IGA), Woolworths ** Approved GFSI Schemes: BRC, Freshcare, GLOBALG.A.P., SQF. Refer to https://harpsonline.com.au/growers-and-suppliers/ for further information. ^ Support Services: Services including ripening, brokerage activities (agent or merchant), storage and cooling (where product handling and traceability are the responsibility of the Support Service supplier).
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