A young farmer is bravely speaking out about his near fatal battle with depression to address the stigma he says still surrounds mental illness in rural New Zealand.

Once a confident young man, 26-year-old Sam Robinson began to experience depression in his final year at Mt Hutt College in 2008.

The then Head Boy looked to have it all on the outside – he was bright and a school leader but incrementally over that final year the pressure of expectation he put on himself took its toll.

Feeling worthless under the weight of stress he was carrying, he was also diagnosed with hyperhidrosis – an illness that can be caused by stress or anxiety and leads to excessive sweating.

Embarrassed by the illness, he began to isolate himself and drank heavily if he had to socialise.

"For a long time I tried to drink away the issue in order to try and forget that I was struggling. All this led to was me drinking myself into an absolute state in full public view.

'Then I wouldn't be able to control my head at all, which would lead to me doing something stupid and expressing that through aggression. I would then punch someone or something for no reason or try to get myself into a fight in order to get someone to hit me back, so hopefully I would feel pain."

Sam says that pain felt like a form of release, which meant he didn't have to hurt himself.

Not wanting to admit that he was suffering because he felt so ashamed, Sam went to Otago University to study Law and Commerce, but by the year's end he felt worse than ever and dropped out to come home to the family farm.

More than anything he felt weak for not being able to overcome the demons inside him as he had always been the one to help others out.

He decided to go to Lincoln University but pulled out after one semester and went back home to the farm. Years of struggle followed including suicide attempts but this year Sam decided to get help – much to the relief of his family.

Now with the help of his doctor and with counselling support Sam has started back at Lincoln and hopes to complete a global business and supply chain degree by the end of next year.

Recently Sam spoke out on Facebook and shared what he had been going through. It was gutsy and it elicited huge support from his home community.

'I wanted to change the way people view and think about depression. It's important not to feel guilty or weak about having depression because after all it's an illness. You don't choose to get it so you shouldn't feel ashamed about seeking help for it or talking about it.”

Now Sam wants to encourage people to ask their mates how they are, instead of sitting back.

'Just do something for the person you think might be suffering. It doesn't have to be much. It could be as simple as kicking a ball around.”

These days Sam knows his triggers and acts quickly when he thinks he might be going downhill.

Recently that meant quitting as vice chairman of his Methven Young Farmer Club, although he still loves attending club activities and believes the organisation offers an important social network for young people to share their feelings.

He exercises regularly, doesn't drink alcohol and has a healthy diet. 'That all helps.”

NZ Young Farmers CEO Terry Copeland says unfortunately, there are many cases like Sam's and he urges young people to take note if a friend's behaviour changes.

'Just like Sam said, it's important to be brutally frank and ask about a friend's wellbeing.”

Terry says the organisation is becoming a Good Yarn Workshop facilitator in an effort to help those that may be suffering undiagnosed depression.

'As an organisation representing young people we have a duty of care to look out for mental wellbeing.”