CHANGE may be as good as a holiday for some people but for others it can be stressful.
This week's online Friday Forum from 12pm will discuss how to prepare for and deal with the impact of change in many shapes and forms.
Land conflict, council amalgamations, natural disasters, grief and loss, relationships, even job loss in a community are just some of the changes that can have huge psychological impacts on people living in rural communities.
Preparing for and dealing with change is essential as it can happen at any time in our lives.
Some people feel anxious and overwhelmed or experience stress caused by changes in their life.
However, there are ways you can learn to deal with change and get a head start in preparing for it.
Expert panel members include Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) co-ordinator (North Coast Local Health District) Steve Carrigg; NSW Department of Primary Industries rural resilience officer Sarah Goulden; Involuntary Drug and Alcohol Unit (Western Local Health District) senior social worker Meagan Beasley and beyondblue NewAccess coach Brendan Koivu, North Coast.
Our panellists are ready to answer your questions about a number of important issues, including:
l Where to get help
l How to recognise if somebody needs help
l What you can do to prepare for change
l How to build coping strategies
l Ways to manage stress and anxiety caused by change
l Tips on how to stay mentally healthy
The Friday Forum is a joint initiative of The Land and RAMHP.
You can ask questions on the day or submit your questions ahead of time.
If you don't feel comfortable joining the discussion, you can still follow the conversation.
Visit The Land from 12pm on Friday, May 8, to take part in the Friday Forum.