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Mates encouraged to help Mates
30 June 2008
Men’s health has taken a significant step forward with the Mate Helping Mate Forum held in Yetman recently, where 36 local men came together to talk about ways they could access the support they need to stay on top of things.
Hunter New England health joined forces with St Vincent de Paul and Home and Community Care (HACC) to run the Mate Helping Mate Forum on 14 June, which kicked off with general health checks and a series of brief presentations about health and well-being, followed by a social barbecue and opportunity to share stories and a few laughs.
Primary Health Care Nurse based in Warialda, Rebecca Slater, said she and Texas nursing staff provided general health screening and blood pressure checks to participants when they arrived at 4pm to kick off the night.
Next there was some lighthearted entertainment by Jim Skinner, who recited his fantastic bush poems.
Rebecca Slater then introduced her Primary Health Care role, informing local men that she is there to help them get access to health care when they need it.
"People who live in reasonably isolated communities like Yetman can put off getting health care, because it often means a whole day away from their farms.
"On my fortnightly clinic days, these people can pop into the Yetman hall and have things like their blood pressure or sun spot checked, and I can give them advice or referral to a doctor if needed.
"This service brings health care a bit closer to home," she said.
Carer Assist advocate for carers of people with mental illness, Janelle Smith, based at the GP surgery in Warialda, told how people can access her services and reassure carers that they don’t have to do it alone.
Rebecca Slater said the next speaker was a remarkable man from Moree, Robert 'Butch" Young, who has lived most of his life with schizophrenia, who spoke about how he manages his mental illness on a day to day basis.
"Many people are frightened of mental illnesses such as schizophrenia, probably because it is such an unknown quantity. But Butch helped us all to see how coping with any illness can be done, while living a normal life. Butch is married and is the stay-at-home dad for his two children. His talk was moving and quite inspirational," she said.
The final presenter of the evening was St Vincent De Paul Society’s Graham Fear from Sydney who spoke about the history of the Mate Helping Mate program.
Mr Fear played a DVD which showed how people in rural communities have become increasingly isolated with the drought, and less likely to lean on each other in times of difficulty.
"The whole night was about making it clear that all people need support sometimes, and its okay to reach out for help when you need it,’ she said.
The sausage sizzle at the end of the night gave people an informal time to talk with each other and find out more about local primary health care clinics.
Rebecca said she visits a number of small communities around Warialda, including Crooble, Croppa Creek, North Star, Yetman and Coolatai. People are invited to call her to find out when she is next in their community on 6728 9026.
Caption: Terry of Yetman was one local who took advantage of the free health screening at the Mate Helping Mate Forum held recently. Warialda nurse Robyn Barnes was one of several nurses from Warialda and Texas who joined with a number of speakers to promote health and wellbeing at the Forum.
Contact: Kay Cope
Phone: 6776 9817
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