Local Corowa farmer and former Beyond Blue board member Derek Schoen said while it's important to have face to face assistance, people need to be able to access information quickly and advice needs to be readily available.
Corowa farmer Derek Schoen spent six years on the Beyond Blue board working on practical solutions for rural and regional mental health, where research shows a farmer dies by suicide every 10 days.
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Bringing firsthand knowledge of the pressures facing farming communities to his role, Derek said a simple, handwritten postcard matters where isolation is a daily reality and can be the difference between spiralling into the darkness, and seeing a little bit of light.
This year, as Beyond Blue marks 25 years of supporting Australians’ mental health, Australia Post will distribute four million Connection Postcards to letterboxes across the country, with 25 million delivered since the initiative started in 2021.
Now a regional community spokesperson for Beyond Blue and no longer on the board, Derek said the idea behind the Connection Postcards initiative was to generate the conversation that “you know you're being thought about”.
“People get these postcards in the mail, and they think, ‘I'm not alone’,” Derek said.
“That's one of the hardest things, especially in rural areas where isolation here is mostly contributed by our geography and population.
“It stimulates people to think of someone they haven't heard from for a while or they do know is doing it tough, and this might just be that hand that reaches out.”
Australia Post General Manager Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey, proudly celebrates the six year partnership between Australia Post and Beyond Blue that brought a sense of connection to millions of Australians.
The Connection Postcards initiative is a partnership between Australia Post and Beyond Blue, and Australia Post General Manager Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey, said the initiative responds to a growing need for everyday human connection.
“More Australians say they’re feeling disconnected, and that sense of isolation can have a real impact on wellbeing,” Ms Tracey said.
“This year is particularly exciting as we celebrate 25 years of Beyond Blue supporting Australians’ mental health and deliver the 25 millionth Connection Postcard since the campaign began.
“Connection Postcards are a simple way to reach out, to let someone know you’re thinking of them, and to remind people they’re not alone.”
Derek said finding the right help could be difficult with so many charities in the mental health area making it hard to decipher where you should go to through all the noise.
“Not all conditions are going to be suited to the one course of action,” he said.
“The Beyond Blue website is an excellent resource; it points people in the right direction, and it will direct them to what is either closest or to online counselling.
“There are some programs where you can have sessions with an online physician to assist you, and then in an absolute emergency, you can call Lifeline.”
Australia Post’s Connection Postcards initiative is in it’s sixth year, and with four million postcards being delivered this year will see a total distribution of 25 million over that time.
Recent research from Beyond Blue shows only one-third of Australians feel a sense of belonging in their local community, down from previous years, with loneliness and isolation particularly pronounced in regional and remote areas.
The challenges are especially acute in farming communities, where financial pressures, fuel costs, extreme weather and cost of living concerns contribute to declining mental health.
Almost one in three farmers report their mental health has worsened, and rates of suicidal distress remain significantly higher than the national average, with nearly half of farmers experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
At a time where Australians are feeling increasingly lonely or isolated, the Connection Postcards encourage people to reach out to friends and family.
