The drought crisis in Etheridge Shire is far from over despite the official drought declaration being revoked, believes the man who has delivered an remote mental health program in the region.
Psychologist Crispian Jones, Seachange Psychology, has clocked up 120,000 km, lost 10 flat tyres and three shredded tyres and hosted 780 contact visits (contact is anything over half hour), as part of his remote mobile counselling service to drought affected graziers in Etheridge and Croydon shires.
Mr Jones said when he first made enquiries about what service were available in the region when the drought was starting to kick in he “knew that things were pretty crook”.
He called then Etheridge Mayor Will Attwood who sought state funding for a local driver and expenses for six months. This supported federal funding for the program.
“It was a new venture, people were very suspect,” Mr Jones said.
“Country people are very private.
“That famous resilience works for them and against them.”
Since 2014, Mr Jones has been visiting the region a week every month. He spends an hour, half a day or a day with people, and sometimes overnight.
His office is their office – across the kitchen table, under the tree at smoko or on lick runs.
“They love the lick runs because I get to open all the gates,” Mr Jones said.
“But sitting side by side rather than face to face is far less confrontational. I’m in their space, in there environment and that is so powerful.”
Mr Jones remembers visiting a Croydon property owner who was “in tears” for five hours.
Mr Jones returned, on request, to see his wife who was also doing it tough.
“I was there until 10 o’clock that night,” he said. “Their marriage was falling apart and they had no-one to talk to.
“At the moment, if you have a marriage problem the only option is to go into hospital, see a doctor and get a mental health care plan, then make appointment to see the psychologist at the RFDS.
“There’s no privacy – people don’t do it.
”Drought is not always the trigger but it exacerbates the problem and makes it worse.
“The cracks are just blown wide open.”
Mr Jones said he understood the service would be funded until September but is concerned about its future from then.
He’d like to see the program continued and believes the drought crisis is far from over.
“Mental well being varies, depending on their financial circumstance, family and the the number of cattle they have,” Mr Jones said.
“Cattle prices are good but sadly a lot of people are down to their breeding stock or don’t have breeding stock.
“So the issue of cash flow is still ongoing and the tension that goes with that.
“Some of those properties are millions of dollars in debt so it’s a massive load to carry and that will have an impact on mental health.
“I don’t believe that this crisis is finished because the drought declaration has been lifted.
“In talking to people who know more about the ins and outs of raising cattle then I do five to seven years is what they are saying.”
Gulf Cattleman’s Association president Barry Hughes said it was critical that the work Cris delivered continued.
“The psychology of what has impacted our industry is still a huge issue and something we are very proactive about in making sure we keep the service provisions in the region to deal with the issues,” Mr Hughes said.
“Cris Jones has done a fantastic job.
“The blueprint that he has operated under could be and should be the way that type of service provision is rolled out in times of adversity,
“What Cris has delivered has certainly has saved lives and it’s important we maintain that service delivery profile.”
Mr Jones said feedback from clients and the community reassured him that he was making a difference.
“I’ve had people say to me “Cris, we know you are there, you are like a safety blanked – you might not think you are doing any good but just knowing that you are there does wonders.”
