Landcare NSW and Gotcha4Life have formed a partnership to deliver workshops and training in rural communities across NSW to address mental health and build mental fitness.
The partnership will focus on "prevention through connection".
Landcare NSW has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Gotcha4Life, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to connecting corporate Australia, government, community and not-for-profits to help reduce instances of poor mental health in Australia.
The agreement is for Landcare NSW to assist in the delivery of Gotcha4Life programs through the extensive Landcare networks across the state to reach a wider audience.
"Landcare NSW is delighted to partner with Gotcha4Life and deliver these worthwhile programs using Landcare's social capital, connection and networks across NSW," said Landcare NSW chief executive Adrian Zammit.
"Positive mental health is something everyone needs to work on, but in these trying times of prolonged drought and bushfires it's particularly hard.
"Our rural and regional communities are hurting.
"The state is in the grip of the worst drought on record, and many farmers have not received any income from their farms for several years and the current climatic forecast suggests that there is no prospect of significant, drought-breaking, rain in the near future.
"For many people in our rural communities, the onset and impacts of a catastrophic bushfire season, is the last straw.
"It is incredibly important to support our rural and regional communities through this time.
"Across our communities we are seeing a dramatic increase for the need for support and connection and our aim is to empower communities to take effective action, build connection and reduce the incidence of suicide and the heart-breaking impact it has on our communities.
"Landcare is more than a collective movement. It is a community and for many across NSW, it is a family."
Founder of Gotcha4Life is television and radio personality Gus Worland.
"Our vision at Gotcha4Life is a world where people are open, honest and supportive in their relationships and comfortable to express themselves when they are not ok," Mr Worland said.
"We envisage a society in which everyone has a Gotcha4Life mate who they can open up to, warts and all, and rely on no matter what.
"We've set an ambitious aim to reach 500,000 people within the next five years who will be benefiting from mental fitness programs to ensure these friendships can be activated when it really counts.
"Our partnership with Landcare NSW will be vital to achieve this."
Every year:
- More than 65,000 Australians make a suicide attempt
- More than eight people die each day in Australia by suicide
- Suicide is the leading cause of death for Australians between 15 and 44 years of age
- In 2017, about 75 per cent of people who died by suicide were males and 25pc were females.
Gotcha4Life funds sustainable educational workshops, training programs and products that build mental fitness in communities across Australia to enable strong, open and binding relationships.
- Australian Community Media is a media partner with Landcare Australia.
