The Country and prominent Kiwis team up to support Rural Mental Health Week

NZME’s ‘The Country’ has launched its second Rural Mental Health Week with the aim of getting more New Zealanders from rural communities to talk about their mental health.

Via its daily radio show and print and digital publications, The Country has become a companion to farmers and their families over the years. 

The team is now on a mission to use that position to focus on raising mental health awareness.

Host Jamie Mackay says: “Farmers are great at looking after their farms, their workers, their stock and their equipment, but too often they forget about themselves and their own wellbeing. During last year’s Rural Mental Health Week, we learnt that our audiences are more receptive now, to hear about mental health, accepting help, and learning strategies to cope.”

The week launched with Mackay interviewing leading Rural Mental Health Advocate and former All Black Sir John Kirwan.

Farm4Life social media influencer Tangaroa Walker, Big Feelings Tractor Trek pioneer Cat Levine, founder of Meat The Need rural food charity Wayne Langford, as well as Farmstrong ambassador and All Black Sam Whitelock will all join The Country across the week to share their stories and experiences.

Producer and Co-host Rowena Duncum says: “Everyone we’ve spoken to about coming on the show to talk about joining in has been incredibly supportive.

“We’re also grateful to have the support of Goldpine – one of New Zealand’s largest specialist rural timber suppliers. With so many of their people constantly out and about on farms across New Zealand, Goldpine’s team has a close connection with our rural communities.”

Goldpine has also initiated its own programmes to support mental health awareness on farms.

The interviews will be added to iHeartRadio across the week.

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