Mitch Power Quick Shear event gets men talking about mental health

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Warning: This story contains discussion of suicide. A NSW snowy mountains community is trying to change the culture around rural mental health, following the tragic loss of shearer, Micthell Power, who took his own life at just 22 years old.

Transcript

00:00This is not your usual speed-sharing competition.

00:07Who's got the quickest to our side?

00:09It's being held in memory of Tracey Power's son, Mitchell.

00:13He was caring, very strong.

00:16He would put family and friends before anything else.

00:21Just the light, like he'd just light up a room.

00:23In December 2021, Mitchell Power took his own life.

00:27He was only 22.

00:31The Shearer's family and friends didn't realise he was struggling with his mental health.

00:36It was soul-destroying.

00:39It's not something I ever thought Mitch would do.

00:43I never thought that things were playing on his mind that bad.

00:47There's a mental health crisis affecting our rural communities.

00:51Suicide rates are higher in farmers than the rest of Australians.

00:54And for Shearers, the entrenched culture of masculinity and toughness is a barrier to seeking help.

01:02Coming to work, not showing too much emotion.

01:05If you're having a hard time at home, you know, you don't bring that to work.

01:09Mitch's friend and fellow Shearer, Lee Hickey, says working in remote locations adds to the challenge.

01:16You could be a couple of hours from any sort of town or anybody.

01:20You might not even have phone service.

01:23The annual Mitch Power Quick Shearer is raising both awareness and funds.

01:28Our goal is to see everyone working in the shearing sheds looking after their mental health,

01:33as well as a shearer will look after their shearing gear.

01:36Come over and chat to Carol and I.

01:38The not-for-profit charity Shedway talks with Shearers and helps connect them with services.

01:44If one person takes something out of it and it saves one person's life on that particular day from that event,

01:51then that's one family.

01:55That's happy.

01:57A mission to change the culture in every shed across the country.

02:01A mission to change the culture in every shed across the country.

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