Pit Stop puts health on pole position

For the first time at this year’s Mudgee Small Farm Field Days, July 13 and 14, Department of Primary Industries (DPI) will host the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program’s (RAMHP) Pit Stop, where visitors to the DPI tent can take time out to receive a free 15-minute health check.

DPI rural support worker, Pip Brown, said the popular program has achieved some very positive outcomes – from increasing awareness of physical and mental health issues to actually saving lives.

"We know of one bloke who has thanked RAMHP for saving his life after undergoing a Pit Stop check-up," Ms Brown said.

"The Pit Stop crew found that he had an irregular heartbeat and suggested he see his own doctor.

"Routine blood tests taken by his doctor indicated the gentleman had prostate cancer and now he has received successful treatment to overcome the cancer."

The Pit Stop will be crewed by Ms Brown and RAMHP mental health consultant, Margaret Greig, with the RAMHP team to deliver a speedy and effective service which aims to give rural residents the chance to put their health in pole position.

"Our surveys show that 70 per cent of visitors to the Pit Stop haven’t seen a doctor or had a medical check up for more than 12 months," Ms Greig said.

"We understand that rural isolation, the distance to medical facilities and difficulties in making appointments, has a big impact in the country.

"Pit Stop is just one way of helping to better address health issues for county families and individuals."

Blood pressure, diet, exercise and mental wellbeing are all taken into account during the Pit Stop.

Mate Helping Mate founder, John Harper, will be in the DPI tent on Friday July 13 to talk about coping with depression and copies of his Mate Helping Mate CD will be available at the Pit Stop. 

Photographs are available from bernadette.york@dpi.nsw.gov.au

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