Wear The Rural cont

from ISSUE 1,039 - FRIDAY 3RD JUNE 2022

Pink Ribbon Event

...continued from front page. Will To Live is a not-for-profit organisation, 100% funded by rural New Zealand, for rural New Zealand. Founded in 2018 by Elle Perriam after her partner, a young farmer, unfortunately took his own life. Suicide in rural New Zealand is higher than any other demographic having a lasting ripple effect throughout a community, especially among young people, who are often the largest statistic. Will To Live promotes mental health awareness, providing one on one support, free education and wellbeing tools to small rural communities, often isolated from mental health resources. In September 2021, Will To Live launched ‘Rural Change’ which is a fund for private psychologists for New Zealand Farmers. This was motivated by the devastatingly long eight-week waiting lists to see a psychologist or counsellor currently in the public health system. The Rural Change fund will provide 3x private counselling sessions per farmer, with the aim of only a 2-3 day waiting time. This fund will be easily accessible to anyone employed, managing or owning a farming operation in New Zealand. The cost per hour session can range from $150-$250. The group commented on why donating the funds to this worthy cause is so important to them. “Growing up in rural communities with no talk of mental health or wellbeing, we have major appreciation for the Will To Live Rural Change Programme.

As young women, we feel as though for some reason, we are taught from a young age to just get on with it and keep going. “Often, we feel like this is what breaks us in the future because we have no way of knowing how to deal with it, which is why we think what Will To Live is doing is so important, as they are trying to break the stigma with challenges, etc. While also actually setting up tools (counselling, etc) to help people who have already been affected by mental health. Their Rural Change Program is especially important to us, as we have known family and friends that have waited months for professional help and while they wait, they only get worse. Whereas with this programme, people can get help within 2-3 days which in our opinion is pretty amazing. With this business venture, we want to remove the stigma behind rural mental health and make it a topic that is not awkward to talk about and everyone feels open and comfortable,” concluded the The logo which is on the group. front of the shirts. The back of the shirts.

Millie added, “I am from a farm in Greendale, and this project is very important to me. Coming from Greendale, I have a strong passion for mental health in the rural industry. As a young girl, I have witnessed many occasions of mental health breaking people and making them feel trapped, and I have felt this is a problem that needs to be acted on in our community. It would be cool for the Malvern community to get behind and support us!”

Shirts can be purchased for $80 and the group will be offering NZ post courier or local drop off/pick ups can be arranged. So, get in touch with them via Facebook, Instagram or email: weartherural@gmail.com to order yours today.