Rural mental health worker Kate Arndell said there needed to be an attitude-shift from all facets of the community towards the effects of drought.

Often the severity of drought is measured in financial and statistical terms, but Mrs Arndell said it could take a toll on other often-overlooked aspects.

“The Local Land Services has held some really great meetings all around the region helping farmers find out information in terms of feeding stock, water supplies and nutritional supplies for stock,” she said. 

“They’re often there for the practical stuff, where to buy water, the welfare needs of animals and often last on priority list their mental health.”

Mrs Arndell said people were starting to access local services more, but the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program was still fighting against an ingrained attitude of country people tending to not ask for help.

Her main message to combat this was how decision-making skills could take a hit when mental health wasn’t being considered.

“If they don’t look after themselves, it makes it difficult to look after their property and stock,” she said.

“When you’re not functioning well yourself, you can make poor decisions.”

The encompassing effects of an extended dry period could also be overlooked by the wider community, she said.

“If we’re in a job we don’t like, we can leave it; we can resign, or leave it at 5pm and shut the door,” she said.

“[Farmers] live at their job, it’s all around them.

“We might go for a drive and think ‘god, it's dry’, then go back into our cosy house, or go to an office job and it  doesn’t impact us other than, ‘oh, it’s dry’.

“Everything they do is impacted-on by it being dry.”

She said there was a range of services which could be utilised in the region, but also encouraged people to recognise early warning signs in themselves and others.

“Staying socially connected and talking to people is really important, realising others are in the same boat can help minimise isolation,” she said.