Tag: mental health

Support for regional mental health growing through connections

How seriously do you take your mental health and is it the same as looking after any other part of your body? This is a question that Gotcha4Life Chairman and Founder, Gus Worland, asks communities.

After experiencing first-hand the devastating impacts of mental illness in his own personal journey, Gus has made it his life mission to support communities’ mental fitness and ability to support and address issues related to mental illness.

 “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. 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.

“Our partnership with Landcare NSW will help create and facilitate these conversations. The past couple of years have been devastating for so many rural and regional communities so we’re working with Landcare NSW to help provide support where it is needed most,” said Gus Worland.

Central West Lachlan Landcare Coordinator and Central West Regional Representative, Marg Applebee said she looks forward to facilitating workshops and events in the Parkes region.

“Gus is so fantastic at engaging with the community and it was such a pleasure to have him and his wife (and Co-Founder) Vicky come to Parkes. They are such great people and really work with you to build a strong mental health network and help establish strategies to support your community.

“The Gotcha4Life team are working towards the goal of zero suicides and focus on prevention through connection. The fact that they are doing this without Government funding and are working with people and partners such as Landcare NSW really shows their willingness to go anywhere to help raise awareness of the importance of working on your mental health, as you would your physical health,” says Marg Applebee.

Landcare NSW has been working in collaboration with Gotcha4Life to develop a support network for local Landcare communities to have access to the services Gotcha4Life provides. Most recently, Landcare NSW has formed a coalition with the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMPH).

“After an initial partnership with Gotcha4Life, Landcare NSW has also built a further partnership with RAMPH and Surf Life Saving NSW to ensure that all Landcare NSW communities have the opportunity to build their mental fitness and have access to the support they need,” says Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit.

“The past 18 months have been devastating for our communities. Both adults and children are dealing with so many mental health challenges, which has only been exacerbated by drought, bushfires and COVID-19 so by building support networks we hope to successfully make a difference to everyone. No matter their age.”

Building Mental Fitness in Parkes and Forbes Shires

LISTEN HERE: Gus Worland Interview on 2PK/ROK FM Parkes

 

An exciting new collaboration between Gotcha4Life, Landcare NSW, the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) and Surf Lifesaving NSW has led to the opportunity to bring new programs to the Parkes and Forbes Shires with a focus on building mental fitness.

The four organisations saw the opportunity to work together in regional, rural and coastal areas in NSW by delivering workshops and training focussed on the concept of ‘prevention through connection’.

Forbes Shire Mayor, Cr Phyllis Miller and Parkes Shire Mayor, Cr Ken Keith OAM have expressed the support of both Councils for the outlay of programs. After several years of drought and then COVID-19, now is the time to continue working on these important aspects of our community health.

Gotcha4Life is a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to connecting corporate Australia, government, community and NFP to help prevent and reduce instances of poor mental health in Australia. CEO Tim Hodgson said, ‘We are so excited to work alongside such powerful and purpose-driven organisations, who have local reach into communities across NSW, enabling us to build mental fitness with local relevance and sustainable impact.”

Founder of Gotcha4Life and television and radio personality, Gus Worland said: “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. We envisage a society in which everyone has a Gotcha4Life mate who they can open up to and rely on no matter what.

“This collaboration will be vital to help engage people across NSW who are battling with the effects of drought, fire and COVID-19,” said Gus.

Marg Applebee, Coordinator for Central West Lachlan Landcare, and Di Gill, RAHMHP Consultant are pleased to be working with Gotcha4Life to help activate these programs the Parkes and Forbes shires.

Dr Adrian Zammit, Chief Executive Officer at Landcare NSW says, “While Landcare NSW’s mission is to continue to care for the land and environment, it is founded on a series of close-knit communities that we need to support. With over 70 Local Coordinators supported by their own local Landcare groups across NSW, we have the opportunity to assist with facilitation of this important program across the State.

The value we all gain from investing in these relationships and harnessing Landcare NSW’s extensive network means thousands of members across NSW will be able to have access to the mental fitness programs and powerful messaging that Gotcha4Life can bring.”

The Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) currently has 20 Coordinators who live and work across NSW who connect people to local services and information.

RAMHP Manager Tessa Caton said continuing to find new ways of building mental fitness and capacity in rural communities was absolutely essential after the challenges 2020 has brought.

“RAMHP will provide the advice that only a ‘local’ knows about each rural community and where to get help for your mental health. Our extensive range of rural mental health education sessions will complement the inspiring workshops powered by Gotcha4Life that redefine masculinity and femininity.

“We are looking forward to working with Gotcha4Life, Landcare NSW and Surf Lifesaving NSW to ensure our rural communities have access to a full suite of mental fitness programs and are equipped with the skills and tools to cope with ongoing challenges,” Tessa said.

Whilst Surf Life Saving NSW isn’t an organisation that we rely on day to day in the country, they are an important link in this partnership bring the hub of many coastal communities and are well-placed to provide practical support for initiatives and programs on the ground.

New partnership to address mental health and build mental fitness in rural communities across NSW

A new partnership between Landcare NSW and Gotcha4Life will soon see the delivery of workshops and training in rural communities across NSW to address mental health and build mental fitness.

The partnership, announced last night in Sydney, will focus on ‘prevention through connection’.

Landcare NSW signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Gotcha4Life, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to connecting corporate Australia, government, community and NFP to help reduce instances of poor mental health in Australia. The MoU is for Landcare NSW to assist in the delivery of Gotcha4Life programmes through the extensive Landcare networks across the state to reach a wider audience efficiently and effectively.

Landcare NSW CEO, Dr Adrian Zammit, said: “Landcare NSW is delighted to partner with Gotcha4Life and deliver these worthwhile programs using Landcare’s social capital, connection and networks across NSW. Positive mental health is something that 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 grips 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,” said Adrian.

Founder of Gotcha4Life and television and radio personality, Gus Worland said: “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 O.K. 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,” said Gus.

Gotcha4Life funds sustainable educational workshops, training programs and products that build mental fitness in communities across Australia to enable strong, open and binding relationships.

Every year:

  • Over 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% of people who died by suicide were males and 25% were females

 

For further information contact:

Jodie Lovell, Landcare NSW
Email: jlovell@landcarensw.org.au
Mobile: 0439 316 151