This week's episode brings our bush-baked conversations tour to a close. For this ep we wrangled locals Pete Sinclair and Joe Briggs to kick off conversations with john. Our speakers come in with their hearts on their sleeve as they delve into struggles with addiction and how adopting good habits and the support of loved ones, helped foster a positive path forward. Pete encourages us to not ever have empty hands; ensure you fill your life with something and don't let it be empty. Our mate Chris reinforces the idea to not dwell on what's in the rearview mirror and to keep trucking on forward and kicking up the dust. We also go into the importance of paying this support forward - accepting help is just as important as passing that help onto another when you can see them struggling. In helping others, we help ourselves. We are grateful to all that came along and contributed to the conversation, chiming in and relaying their own experiences as they related to the speakers.

A big shout out to John Harper for putting his heart and soul into this important work and getting us on the road. Thank you again to The Department of Primary Industries and their Farm Business Resilience Program who have gotten behind the podcast.

We are stoked to bring you this episode and look forward to hearing your thoughts!

****The advice in this podcast is of a general nature, and not an excuse for not seeing your GP or medical professional. There’s some handy links over at the Mate helping Mate website to learn more about resources you can access. If you need to talk to someone right now give Lifeline a call on 13 11 14.

Our second recording out in the Temora Shire saw John joined by “old farts” as he calls them, but also old pals Fiona Raleigh, Andrew Lockley and Ron Stimson. It was great to welcome other local voices who took a seat in the audience and contributed their thoughts too. The chats honed in on the differing perspectives of oldies (Old Farts) versus youngens (Young Pups) and what may be learned through these differences, the benefits of a more open mental health dialogue today and how life for rural people has changed and why connection and community is more important than ever.

A big shout out to John Harper for putting his heart and soul into this important work and getting us on the road. Thank you again to The Department of Primary Industries and their Farm Business Resilience Program who have gotten behind the podcast.

We are stoked to bring you this episode and look forward to hearing your thoughts!

****The advice in this podcast is of a general nature, and not an excuse for not seeing your GP or medical professional. There’s some handy links over at the Mate helping Mate website to learn more about resources you can access. If you need to talk to someone right now give Lifeline a call on 13 11 14.

This episode of Mate Helping Mate found us in the village of Springdale, NSW. John was joined by “young pups”, agronomist Emma Robinson, and farmers Ben Kotzer and Michael Sinclair, along with a few locals who came along to listen in and be part of the chat. Folks took the mic to offer their personal perspectives about growing up, what wisdom we gain from our childhood and the positive changes we need to ensure the next generation is a more prepared to action these strategies addressing mental health and wellbeing - that you don't just pull your socks up, you need to talk to acknowledge the problem. Themes that came to the surface related to coping with intergenerational trauma and how the nature of farming has changed.

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A big shout out to John Harper for putting his heart and soul into this important work and getting us on the road. Thank you again to The Department of Primary Industries and their Farm Business Resilience Program who have gotten behind the podcast.

We are stoked to bring you this episode and look forward to hearing your thoughts!

****The advice in this podcast is of a general nature, and not an excuse for not seeing your GP or medical professional. There’s some handy links over at the Mate helping Mate website to learn more about resources you can access. If you need to talk to someone right now give Lifeline a call on 13 11 14.

Recovery can be a lonely journey, so let's do it together.

Round two of our panel-audience format of the Mate Helping Mate podcast! This time we hit the road to chat to the folks of the Tooma NSW community. Local folks, Sharon, Macca and Ian joined John on the couch up the front, along with an audience willing to share their lived experience. The stories and the emotions shared at Brigham House, highlight the resilience necessary for positive recovery.In this episode, there is an emphasis on the importance of community and mateship when recovering from a setback. The tragedy and trauma of the bushfires saw properties left bare, houses lost and wellbeing and livelihoods put to the test. We hear from those who continue to cope with trauma in the aftermath of these events; reflecting on the way a collective community resilience was bolstered through mateship and community connections.

A big shout out to John Harper for putting his heart and soul into this important work and getting us on the road. Thank you again to The Department of Primary Industries and their Farm Business Resilience Program who have gotten behind the podcast.

We are stoked to bring you this episode and look forward to hearing your thoughts!

****The advice in this podcast is of a general nature, and not an excuse for not seeing your GP or medical professional. There’s some handy links over at the Mate helping Mate website to learn more about resources you can access. If you need to talk to someone right now give Lifeline a call on 13 11 14.

Here it is! Mate Helping Mate Podcast first live recording of a panel-audience format! We had over 70 people join us at the Whitton Malt House to be a part of important conversations between our panelists Kim Whitham, Lexi and Jody Heath, Rob Houghton and moderator John Harper. 

This episode features the conversations that took place throughout the night, which were based on facing mental health stigma, how to engage in support networks as well as strategies that people use to get through the tough times. This interactive format meant that the audience was welcome to speak at any point where they wished to add their thoughts. The format ensured that the mental health and wellbeing knowledge and wisdom that exists at a local level is aired and shared. People were gracious in sharing their stories of grief, connecting with mates, and anecdotes that related to each topic. You will hear John, the local panelists and audience community members who had a go on the microphone, make valuable and positive contributions to wellbeing resilience.

A big shout out to John Harper for putting his heart and soul into this important work and getting us on the road. Thank you again to the Whitton Malt House for hosting us, to our GoFundMe sponsors, as well as Serafin Machinery, Centrecare, DNL Plumbing and The Department of Primary Industries and their Farm Business Resilience Program.

Serafin Machinery are offering a 5% discount on selected products to any MHM listeners using the code ‘SMExtra5’ before October 27th 2023. Visit their website at www.serafinmachinery.com.au. 

We are stoked to bring you this episode and look forward to hearing your thoughts!

****The advice in this podcast is of a general nature, and not an excuse for not seeing your GP or medical professional. There’s some handy links over at the Mate helping Mate website to learn more about resources you can access. If you need to talk to someone right now give Lifeline a call on 13 11 14.

This episode of Mate Helping Mate features some solo wisdom from John about mental wellbeing resilience. Following on from ‘Preparedness’, we bring you the second episode of ‘Rough But Ready’. Once we have laid the foundations for resilience, how do we keep it up in the long term?

John looks at the ability to action what you have prepared, how to know when to use it and how to apply it. It is something that we need to keep practicing and nurturing. And in building our resilience, it positively impacts us and helps us be in a better position to support those around us too.

This episode of Mate Helping Mate features some solo wisdom from John about preparedness to weather poor mental health. It’s one half of a two-episode special we’ve called ‘Rough But Ready’. Preparedness is being proactive with positive strategies for whatever life throws at us. Like preparing for a storm, it’s important to have some plans in place for when poor mental health strikes us. 

Being prepared with options can reduce fear, anxiety, and losses that accompany mental health crises. Preparedness is important in achieving goals and avoiding negative outcomes. It is important to have an understanding that mental wellbeing is cyclic. That is, anytime you cease being proactive you stop; we cease moving forward to a better and brighter future. Like riding a bike we fall over or fall off. 

Continually practising your mental health preparedness bolsters self-confidence, builds self-worth and so is the foundation for resilience. Have a listen, maybe you’ll be able to add a few tidbits to your toolbox and so strengthen your resilience. John maybe a little rough but at least we will be ready for any setback life may dish up.

Having a strong family unit, living in a compassionate caring community from which there are individuals you can confide in, is a huge positive factor in preventing poor mental health. It could be team harmony at work and the chats at smoko you look forward to each day. It may be your neighbour across the road who comes over for a cuppa and a handful of laughs. Whatever your community or team looks like, you are part of it for a reason, to have a yarn, to enjoy a laugh and to be there for each other when the going gets tough. Today we have a few people who acknowledge how community; a sense of belonging, keeps them going through the highs and lows of life.

****The advice in this podcast is of a general nature, and not an excuse for not seeing your GP or medical professional. There’s some handy links over at the Mate helping Mate website to learn more about resources you can access. If you need to talk to someone right now give Lifeline a call on 13 11 14.

We’re bloody grateful for all the support we’ve received to make this podcast possible, including the show’s sponsors the The Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network (MPHN) and their ‘Empowering our communities’ grant which is the federal government's way of walking the talk; demonstrating their commitment to supporting families and communities living with the impacts of natural disasters. The program aims to support suicide prevention and encourage rural communities to seek out mental health support.

This podcast is also brought to you by the NSW Department of Primary Industries. Through resilience building activities, they support primary producers experiencing natural disasters.

This podcast is by Room3, a production company that work with charities and for-purpose businesses.

Finally, you can keep in touch with John Harper and Mate helping Mate over at matehelpingmate.com.au