BY BILLIE KAAL
October marks Mental Health Month, and farming families in the Hunter are being encouraged to take advantage of Rural Aid's new counselling phone line.
Rural Aid has created the phone line to allow individuals living in rural areas to get over the phone support, especially if there is no easy access to on the ground services.
Farmers have faced significant challenges over the last month, with heavy rainfall in NSW causing an abundance of problems.
Mental Health and Wellbeing Manager Lauren Stracey says the initiative will be beneficial.
"Having someone they feel they can have a bit of a debrief or a vent to that's not their family can be something that provides a little bit of lift that just makes everything else flow a bit more effectively," she said.
The service will connect individuals with counsellors who are knowledgeable in all things rural.
It's available from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, at 1300 175 594.
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| Rural Aid counsellor Heidi Gray talks to a farmer. |
