My Dad is one of the strongest men I know. He works harder than anyone I've ever met. Never one to shy away from hard work. He and Mum had four kids. With my siblings, that's a life sentence right there.  Plus he's a dairy farmer in Northland this season. But he's a bloke's bloke. I don't know if he'd ask for help if he really needed it.

Mental illness is a touchy subject. Historically, it was seen as a long term burden to society. There was a high degree of shame, prejudice and stigma attached. People were locked up in mental institutes – out of sight, out of mind.

Times changed when Sir John Kirwan become the public face. He told us it wasn't ok to tell people to pull yourself together. "Harden up. Everyone's doing it tough." This is the last advice someone suffering from mental illness wants to hear as it trivialises the way they are feeling. If someone was brave enough to share their problems with you and they get brushed off, they might not reach out again. Discrimination is one of the biggest barriers to recovery.

Surveys reveal that farmers want advice. Recent research shows 

•  3 out of 10 were carrying too much weight
• 4 out of 10 had trouble sleeping
• More than half had issues with high blood pressure
• Nearly half wanted advice on how to achieve better work-life balance
• Over a third wanted to know more about managing tiredness and fatigue
• 4 out of 10 are concerned about the impact of stress and burnout

Coping with financial stress

Everyone feels down from time to time and it's normal for people to feel stressed when they are facing problems with money. However, if you are finding your thoughts and emotions keeping you awake at night, you may need some extra support. It's really important to take care of yourself when things get tough – and don't feel bad about asking for help when you need it.

Get advice about money. By getting a handle on the bigger picture, you can take back some control in your life which will help you feel better about yourself and stop that feeling of being overwhelmed.

Discuss your financial situation with the team here at PKF Poutsma Lemon Ltd. Like they say, a problem shared is a problem halved. We can work together to set goals and make a clear and realistic budget and plan to get through the season.  Let us help you get peace of mind and control over your cashflow. Our most successful clients are those who've set targets each year and monitor their results on a regular basis – tough season or not. They know how they are actually performing against budget and can quickly respond to any changes on the horizon.

I'm issuing a challenge. Talk to your neighbour. Talk to your partner. Talk to your kids. Ask how things are going. Actively listen to what they have to say. Let them talk and talk to them about them. It's important to look out for your family and friends. We can make it through hard times by pulling together. I'll rest a whole lot easier knowing a community is looking out for my Dad, and other men just like him.

PKF Poutsma Lemon Limited

Jancy Stott