Vinnies (Australia) acts to cut rate of rural suicides

“Suicide among New South Wales male farmers is occurring at a tragic rate of one every six days, coupled with a suicide every four days in the rural industry, according to the St Vincent de Paul Society”. Thanks to Tim Williams, CM for drawing attention to this.

Prolonged drought, depression and increasing social isolation are the reasons behind the “damning statistics”, says Graham Fear, co-ordinator of mental health for the the St. Vincent de Paul Society’s state council.  “It’s extraordinarily tough for farmers with around 60 per cent of the State in drought,” he said.  “As one farmer put it to me a couple of months ago, this season for many farmers is their last chance at a decent crop. And if they don’t get rain they are up the creek.  READ FURTHER