Drought, pests and diseases, dropping incomes and financial stresses faced by farmers and growers are acknowledged as potential triggers for depression but there may be another, poorly recognised factor too – head injuries.

Don Fraser of Fraser Farm Finance believes it was concussion he received in 1978 which triggered depression – and he's concerned many people living on the land may also be vulnerable to the illness because of a blow to the head at work or playing sport, which is why he's agreed to tell his story.

Out-going, confident, motivated and fit - that was 1970s Lincoln University student Don Fraser until he was injured on the rugby field.
'It was 1978 and I was playing social rugby when I got a good solid kick to the head. I think I went off the field but being a typical Kiwi bloke I thought ‘she'll be right' and went to have a drink with the boys after the game, instead of seeking medical attention.
'The next day in lectures everything went green and I fell over – I remember that so well.”

Staff were so worried about his condition, they kept Don in virtual isolation in the university hospital, but although it was recognised he had concussion, the emotional changes which followed weren't linked to that injury for many years.
'I went from being confident and able to cope well with lectures and study to being anxious and depressed, made worse by any change in routine or familiar surroundings. I did not feel too sharp I can tell you.”

Don managed to successfully complete his studies in valuation and farm management, going on to own and run a dairy farm while also working as a farm adviser and registered valuer; and getting married.
'The stresses of employing staff, which I wasn't good at, running the dairy farm and the valuation business, brought fresh bouts of depression but I still didn't acknowledge it for what it was.
'After one session with psychologist Karl Dibble it all became clear to me. Karl made the link between the head injury and depression and gave me the tools to help deal with it.”
John Kirwan's book ‘All Blacks Don't Cry', about his battle with depression and the ways he found to cope has been inspirational for Don, who thoroughly recommends it to anyone fighting with the ‘black dog' of depression.

'The good news is that it's possible, with some practice, to learn more positive ways of thinking about things and change the ‘chatter' in your head,” says Don.
One of Don's management techniques is listening to the radio on a Sony Walkman at night when he can't sleep and the internal negative, anxious chatter risks getting the upper hand.
'I've given a walkman to several of my clients who I can see are going through what I did,” says Don, who can strongly relate to the Robert Louis Stevenson quote 'Anyone can carry his burden, however hard, until nightfall”. He also says that some form of meditation is a huge help.

Despite the tough times he's been through, Don says his experiences have enriched his life. 'I can truly empathise with others in a way I wouldn't have been able to, had I not received that blow to the head all those years ago.”

Don's tips for getting through:
Accept the fact you have a head injury and or/depression accompanied with anxiety.
Find someone to confide in who will just listen without judgement.
Seek medical help – write down your symptoms and issues, take your partner along and make a double appointment. If you don't get satisfaction, seek another opinion.
Ensure you get proper professional psychological help from a psychologist who specialises in head injury and depression. Don gets grumpy when he meets people who doctors have put on anti-depressants with no psychological help.

Learn how to re-set the clock and once you have, know the signs, heed the warning and take it easy when you need to.
Acknowledge the role your partner plays, they are your best ticket to the future. They need support and understanding too.
Know this is a life-long issue. Just because people can't see the scar or injury, doesn't mean you are fine and dandy.
Check out the depression website:
www.depression.org.nz and read John Kirwan's book.