The hidden cost of the MDBP

As debate rages in cities, rural communities, media outlets and through the vast networks of the ‘twitterverse’ as to the economic and environmental costs of implementing the recently published Murray Darling Basin Plan, there is one factor that has remained unmentioned. The exception to this apparent hidden cost is the Member for Kennedy, The Hon. Mr Bob Katter, who has spoken openly and defiantly about the detrimental effects the plan will have on social impacts, particularly mental health, and the risk of increased suicide resulting from loss of livelihood and/or threats to livelihood.

“Suicide rates in rural and remote areas of Australia are significantly higher than the national average and very remote regions have suicide rates more than double that of major capital cities.” [Source: www.livingisforeveryone.com.au ]  According to research conducted by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) men in regional and remote areas are 1.3 to 2.6 times more likely to end their life by suicide than their urban counterparts.  These are alarming statistics.

So why is the MDBP likely to result in increased suicides and adverse mental health?  To answer this question we need to look at the factors contributing to the high incidents of completed suicides in rural and regional areas; particularly amongst the male population.

People in rural communities are extremely vulnerable to climatic factors and economic changes because incomes are, in general, lower than in urban Australia.  Whether it is flood or drought or the high Australian dollar, all have a direct and significant impact on farming communities which can lead to individual financial hardship, unemployment and bankruptcy. This in turn can lead to depression, a sense of hopelessness, substance abuse or relationship conflict and/or breakdown – all of which are high risk factors attributing to suicide.  People in urban areas are equally at risk to suicide when affected by economic hardship, but there are additional issues impacting rural communities; de-population and the withdrawal of essential services being amongst the most significant.  [Further information can be obtained from the Australian Farm Institute Research Report: Essential Services in Urban and Regional Australia - a Quantitative Comparison ]

Mental illness has been described as “the epidemic of modern times” with one in four Australians suffering.  In regional areas, access to mental health services is considerably less than in major metropolitan centres.  The situation is further exacerbated by fewer GPs who form the ‘frontline’ in the treatment of mental illness.  When we combine the factors of a lack of GPs in rural areas and a high level of prevalent mental illness in the community, it is clear that the medical infrastructure is absent. Without the added support that mental health patients require, it is little surprise that the rate of suicide in regional Australia is significantly higher to that of our metropolitan areas.

The social stigma and shame attached to ‘falling on hard times’ and/or mental illness is another contributing factor to the high rate of suicide in rural areas.  Country people are resilient and self-sufficient.  As such, they are less likely to ask for help, particularly men, because they see this as a sign of weakness or failure.  The very ‘close’ nature of small rural communities tends to feed this phenomenon because ‘everyone knows each others’ business’.

Given the closeness of small communities, when someone does complete suicide, everyone is affected because they all know each other, bringing into play the ‘40 x rule’ – “A person who has attempted suicide, or known a significant other who has completed suicide is 40 times more likely to attempt or attempt again”. [Source: CORES | Community Response to Eliminating Suicide ] This is why one suicide in a rural community is usually followed by several more within a relatively short period of time.  (Examples include Kentish in Tasmania, Buloke in Victoria and the Burdekin in Queensland.)  [Video: Sheffield's Shield - Landline - ABC]

“Rural communities have also been affected by the perceived devaluing (by metropolitan communities and governments) of rural Australia as a contributor to the nation’s social and economic fabric. This has been exacerbated by international trade pressures and the declining profitability of core rural industries.”  [Source: www.nrha.ruralhealth.org.au ]  Rural people are often represented poorly in Australia’s media, particularly by newspaper cartoonists, who portray farmers as gun-wielding, straw-chewing hicks.  It should not be underestimated the impact this has on farmers who, for the most part, are engaged in cutting-edge science and technology to produce abundant, fresh and healthy food for all Australians. As skilled managers of their businesses and the environment, they should be the envy of all Australians. For example: The National Sustainable Farming Award and the Australian Farmer of the Year events, award farmers for their ingenuity, use of innovation and sustainability on the farm .  Unfortunately, this is far from the case and reactions by people in urban centres to rural people who have spoken out about the impact of the MDBP have, in general, been hostile and disdainful.  These attitudes add to feelings of isolation and aloneness for many country people, ie: why bother and who cares?

Subsequently, when these risk factors combine with the relatively easy-access to potent means of ending life, (ie: firearms and chemicals) the results for rural Australia are devastating. Sadly, an inevitable outcome from the proposed MDBP will be the loss of lives to suicide as already fragile communities will experience further depopulation, the withdrawal of yet more services, lost livelihoods, the inability to sell houses/land/farms, bankruptcy and increases in mental illness.  When these stressors become persistent and consistent and are accompanied by loss and aloneness, the contemplation of suicide for many will predictably follow.

If the proposed basin plan goes through, it may be the human cost we are counting at the end of the day, not just the environmental and economic impacts that our media seem to portray. The MDBP affects individuals, families and entire communities. We need to protect and support our farmers and their futures, not kick their lives around like political footballs.

Recommended for further  reading: Suicide Prevention Australia - Position Statement "Responding to Suicide in Rural Australia"

Mental Health Help Lines:

Beyondblue Info Line           1300 22 4636

Mensline Australia                1300 789 978

Lifeline                                   13 11 14

Lifeline’s Info Line                1300 13 11 14

Relationships Australia       1300 364 277

Kids Help Line                       1800 551 800

A Book I Could Put Down

I'm always reading self-help or psychology books but recently found myself growing tired of the genre.  In an effort to expand my world experience, I decided to read my way through a list of true stories.  After all, I rationalised, these would be of equal or better value than all the self-help literature I had been feeding my mind.

The first book on my 'true-stories-list' was Anh Do's "The Happiest Refugee".  I bought it at Townsville Airport while waiting for a flight to Brisbane and had the book read in just 2 nights.  It was light-hearted, full of energy and encouraging....quite literally, I couldn't put it down. 

In complete contrast, I have just finished reading the second book on my list: Ingrid Betancourt's "Even Silence Has an End". 

I remember living the turmoil of Ingrid's abduction and captivity as it was broadcast on TV in 2002 and I rejoiced with the rest of the world on the day of her freedom in 2008.   I was in awe of the intelligence and courage demonstrated by the Colombian Army in their successful plot to free Ingrid and her fellow captives; and I cried throughout the entire TV documentary by National Geographic on the amazing rescue mission.  It served to fuel my anticipation of reading Ingrid's book when it finally became available.

Well - it's out & despite what Oprah may say ..... I struggled.  I didn't want it to be this way.  I wanted to feel uplifted, inspired, enlightened.  Instead, I felt morose, depressed and downcast.  In short, I skipped over many pages and couldn't wait to put the book down.

One can hardly make light of six years of captivity at the hands of FARC and it was bound to be a difficult story to read; but in her writing, Ingrid failed to capture either my empathy or my imagination.  The story read more like a commentary or a text book - it was distant and disconnected.  I wanted to do Ingrid the courtesy of finishing her book (good grief, the  woman spent six years in hell as a hostage) - so I did finish it...albeit under sufferance.

To be blunt, I found it BORING!  Page after page after page of descriptions and minute details.  I guess, in a way, this reflected what life in captivity was like for her: boring, tedious and noticing the finest detail of everything.  I was also disturbed by the horror of how Ingrid and her fellow captives turned on each other while imprisoned - it showed an all too real insight into the human condition - but that's not the reason for my dissatisfaction with her writing.

It seemed to me that Ingrid did not connect with the story herself;  that she was writing the book as a means to an end rather than as the cathartic, therapeutic verse of a woman who had faced her demons and was ready to share it with the world. 

All the same, it's done! I've checked the book off my list and am glad I did read it!  Ingrid Betancourt is a remarkable human being. I'm glad that Ingrid was freed and that she was reunited with her family.  I am grateful that I have not had to go through the hellish ordeal of being held hostage as she did, and I am grateful that Ingrid survived to tell her story. 

As for me, with the luxury that freedom affords, I am already focused on the next book on my list.......

"The Fry Chronicles" by Stephen Fry.

 

A Recovering People-Pleaser

I used to be a people-pleaser...spent my whole life worrying about how happy other people were and being careful not to tread on any toes. 

Needless to say, I overcame "people-pleasing" a few years ago after a severe case of depression & a near nervous breakdown.  I've rebuilt my life & kicked people-pleasing out the door...but every so often (just like an ex-smoker's craving for nicotine) I find myself starting to bend over backwards to please others again.

Take my foray into Twitter as an example:  I changed my profile no less than 3 times; trying to walk a tight-rope between who Alison is as a person & who I am in my working life.  How much is me?  And how much is who I want people to think I am?

Then to my horror, a high profile blogger and Twitter user @GrogsGamut was caught-up in a very public outing by a newspaper journalist.  I panicked, thinking that I should curtail my opinions on Twitter lest someone not be pleased with me and grab hold of an opinion to use for their own purpose.  So... for a week I went back to sitting on a fence and guess what? I HATED it!

I know exactly who I am! I know what I believe! I know what I think! I know what I like and don't like!  I love being on Twitter and it's perfectly OK for me to participate in this online forum.  So, I  have dropped the links to my place of work on my Twitter account & today I make the commitment to tweet Exclusively as me - Alison!

To finish...on Monday a great email came to my inbox and it sums things up beautifully:

Lesson for today

Sometimes, we try too hard to get to the greener grass.  In the process, we end up in trouble ........

And when we do find ourselves in trouble and we're stuck in a situation that we can't get out of; there is one thing we should always remember........

Not everyone who shows up is there to help!!!