A podcast series focusing on rural women’s mental health hits the air in September. Farmstrong spoke to one of the hosts, Emily Walker.
Whereabouts are you based, Emily?
We live Tarras in Central Otago. My husband’s a general manager for a finishing farm here. It’s a great spot and we’ve got a lot of space and enjoy getting out on farm.
Why did you decide to organise this series?
Myfanwy Alexander and I host a weekly podcast, Ag in Conversation, that covers the hottest topics in the world of agriculture. We really wanted to raise awareness about rural women’s mental health. There’s been a lot of focus on the mental health needs of men in recent years. We wanted to highlight the pressures rural women face as well and how much they have to adapt and change to meet different roles and responsibilities.
What will your series include?
We are trying to cover the different aspects of mental wellbeing that women might encounter. Episode 1 features Deanne Parks, who’s been through depression herself. Episode 2 features Tyler Langford, who supported her partner through depression. In Episode 3, Annabelle Mason discusses what we can do to keep mentally well in our everyday lives, and the final podcast features rural psychologist Kate Steadman talking about what to look out for in our friends, family and neighbours and how to help them. So, there’s a range of information and perspectives.
There’s also a live event, isn’t there?
Yes, the last week of September is Mental Health Awareness Week, so on the Friday of that week we are running a live event at Riverstone in Oamaru for 80 to 100 women.
What will that involve?
There’ll be a panel discussion about issues such as women moving away from their family to go farming or having to leave a career to move onto farm or moving around the country for different jobs. The challenges of raising children and starting businesses without having support networks in place for things like childcare.
What’s your own background?
I’m a city girl, a civil structural engineer. I’ve moved around quite a bit for different jobs of my husband’s and now love really being on farm. We have a young daughter and I’m starting my own business, so I’m familiar with many of the issues that we’ll be discussing.
What are you hoping the podcasts achieve?
We want to give women a sense that they’re not alone in dealing with these issues and alert them to the help and support that is out there. For us, it’s really just about helping them connect with their local community and talk about these issues.
Farmstrong’s research into the wellbeing of women in farming identified that they are often the “glue” that holds the whole operation together. They are raising kids, helping run things, working on farm as required. Do you think some of these pressures go unnoticed?
Absolutely. Many women also want to have a career in their own right and it can be difficult trying to achieve that from a remote location. So, like you say, they’ve got a lot of things going on at work and at home and then on top of that it’s not quite so easy to go and have a coffee five minutes down the road to offload with a friend or find that downtime off farm.
The Farmstrong research also highlighted that women often struggle to prioritise time for themselves to recharge. Is that an issue too?
Yes, it’s definitely not that easy. It’s something that I struggle with, but I try to make time for. It’s not easy just to go and make time for myself because there’s always something that needs to be done. I think it requires a mental shift. It’s probably something that everyone can do better.
What do you currently do to look after yourself?
Exercise is a big one for me. I’ve got a set up here at home to make that easier. I also try to carve out time each week for me that isn’t work time. It might be as simple as reading a book. The to-do list is so long with a young family and trying to work around this, so it’s about trying to be intentional with your day to find time.
My little one still has a nap, so I try not to work during her lunch time nap on Fridays. That’s been quite successful in terms of having that downtime.
Do you think rural women need new approaches to maintaining their wellbeing?
If you’re having to work early mornings and late nights and look after kids during the day, it probably does require a different toolbox of skills and a change of mindset.
That’s something we’ve really made a big effort to do in our family. We’re making time to do those fun activities like going skiing or biking. We live in these nice places and at the end of the day, it’s important to appreciate that and make the most of where we live.
When does the new series go live?
The podcasts will go live at 4am every Friday during September. So, if you’re putting cups on the cows, it’ll be fresh in your ears or it will be waiting for you on the morning commute.
Farmstrong is a nationwide rural wellbeing programme that helps farmers and growers manage the ups and downs of farming and growing. For free mental fitness tools and resources head to www.farmstrong.co.nz.
Suffering from depression or stress, or know someone who is? Where to get help:
Rural Support Trust: 0800 RURAL HELP
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
