Not-for-profit organisation, Active Farmers are facilitating Mental Health First Aid courses to equip people in rural areas with the tools needed to help their loved ones and community members.
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Faith Rogers of Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMPH) is one of the Mental Health First Aid trainers, she says there is increasing interest in the courses.
"I think it's becoming more recognised and more sought after because almost half the Australian population experience mental health problems at some time in their life," Ms Rogers said.
"It's giving people information that's going to arm them with the skills, confidence and knowledge to respond to a situation.
"It's great people are interested in doing the course but it is obviously a concern that the issues around drought and water allocations are really affecting people and a lot of communities feel the need to get trained up," she said.
Ms Rogers said the course is run on a similar premise to a physical first aid course.
"It looks at an acronym and implementing a first aid plan," she said.
"It's not about diagnosing or assessing, it's about identifying signs and symptoms of what may be happening in the moment and just managing that until you can get the person appropriate professional treatment."
She said this way of looking at it changed the way people thought about mental health.
"There still is a level of stigma, particularly in rural and remote areas and I think it is able to put context to situations and help people know it's ok and nothing to be scared of," Ms Rogers said.
"It's promoted to see mental illness as you would a physical illness, it's just that you can't see it, you can't see how people are affected."
The course runs across two days and covers topics including, depression and suicidal thoughts, dealing with anxiety, crisis situations such as what to when someone is experiencing a panic attack or has been in a traumatic event, how to manage people in psychosis states and substance abuse, the affects of drug and alcohol use including how to deal with aggressive behaviour.
Completion of the course gives you an accreditation for three years.
Active Farmers jump on board
Active Farmers CEO, Ginny Stevens said the courses fit with their mission of building stronger and more resilient farming communities.
"We want our network to have those skills and that understanding because ultimately it could be what saves a life," Mrs Stevens said.
The next Mental Health First Aid course being run by Active Farmers will be held Jindera on October 12 and 13.
Active Farmers trainer, Allana Hayes organised the event. She said as a personal trainer she was often the person people spoke to about their mental health and she wanted to be able to give the right advice.
"I've had a few that have had major problems and I want to give them the right information and send them to the right places to get them the help that they need if they need it," Ms Hayes said.
"You don't want say the wrong thing and push them the wrong way, I want to try and support whatever issue they have and then I've got to try and not take it home as well."
If you or anyone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.
