A community session will be held at Tamworth Capitol Theatre on Thursday 22 November, from 6pm to 8.30pm, as part of a joint initiative between the two organisations to inspire attendees to be proactive and take care of their mental health and wellbeing.

Australian Unity’s Head of Community Benson Saulo said farmers in regional and remote NSW, including large regional centres such as Tamworth, have been severely impacted by drought which also affects their mental health.

“Drought is a major source of stress and anxiety for farmers and the local community,” Mr Saulo said.

“Drought not only has a devastating impact on a farmer’s livelihood and mental health, but has a flow-on effect on family wellbeing and community vibrancy.

“We believe prevention is just as important as treatment in mental health and that resources should be directed at targeted preventative measures.”

The Resilience Project’s Martin Heppell said remoteness and isolation can mean people have poor access or limited engagement with social networks that are essential for building resilience.

“Even where appropriate services are available, there may be a reluctance to call out for assistance due to social stigma associated with mental illness in some rural and remote communities,” Mr Heppell said.

“So we want to empower people to talk about their struggles and share their stories.

“We will deliver an emotionally engaging presentation that provides practical mental health strategies to build resilience against the difficulties that the drought brings.”

Tickets cost $5. Proceeds will go to the Australian Red Cross’ Disaster Relief and Recovery Appeal for drought-affected farmers and communities.