Tough Times continues to lend a helping hand

The book Tough Times edited by University of Southern Queensland (USQ) Associate Professor Cath Rogers-Clark and Community Nurse Susan Pearce continues to help people across the nation more than two years since it was published.

Ten men's stories of determination and strength of character in dealing with depression and the stresses of rural life are portrayed in the book.

To date more than 4,000 copies have sold Australia wide, with Centacare's Toowoomba office requesting a further 200 copies this month.

Centacare psychologist Wayne Mann said the books have been a useful resource for workshops they have conducted in western Queensland.

'We've used the book extensively in workshops out west and have taken it on roadshows to Charleville, Quilpie, St George, Roma, Mitchell, Goondiwindi and Cunnamulla and will take it to Farm Fest and Ag Show,' Mr Mann said.

Centacare has been distributing Tough Times since it was published and are still finding them a popular resource.

'The feedback we get from the books has been that they are quite inspiring,' he said.

'Women in particular have said they are a good resource to take home and give to the men.'

Co-editor Cath Rogers-Clark said the book started from her desire to research resilience, and what makes some people more resilient from others.

'We spoke to men who had experienced a very severe episode of depression, to the extent that some of them had contemplated taking their own lives, but who had overcome or were managing their depression and getting on with their lives.

'From our interviews with them, we were able to compile their stories.

'If you go into a rural community the issue of suicide is very evident, everyone in the community has been affected by it at some stage, either knowing someone who has taken their life or having thoughts themselves. It is a critical issue.'

Associate Professor Rogers Clark said it was difficult getting men for the study as many of them who are battling tough times wanted to keep their issues to themselves.

'We had to change our approach to the study and make it more of an in-depth approach with the ten men.

'Men do find it difficult to access help. A lot of people tend to say ‘If only they'd talk more like women'. But you can't push women's coping styles onto men, it just doesn't work that way.'

Although the stories in the book are all from Queensland, the issues dealt with impact men across the country.

'The book helps because they can see other blokes going through it, see how they coped and they can read it in private.

'It's usually women who pick up the books for the men. They usually read it themselves and pass it on to men.'

Relationships and an understanding of the recovery process were vital in helping people build resilience to depression, Associate Professor Rogers-Clark said.

'What really came out above all else in the study was the importance of relationships.

'It seemed from the stories that men could cope with a lot of things going wrong but when their relationship ended they became particularly vulnerable.

'Men often do better when they are in relationships, when they have people to care about and who care about them.

'One of the other important things to come out of it is recovery isn't quick. It's a very slow process. It is gradual and incremental.

'They need to have a sense of purpose or a hobby. Then they seem to start reconsidering their perspectives, getting help and talking about it.'

Phone counselling services proved an important service in helping men overcome difficulties.

'One thing that really helped was the Men's Helpline. It provides confidential, often anonymous help and it is a service from outside the community.

'I think the book is really popular because it is free of us. It's their stories. The stories stand on their own. It's men speaking. That's why people find it so powerful.'

Media Contact: Jane Urquhart USQ Media +61 7 4631 2559