A new community-driven support line is up and running in the Waitaki Valley.
The helpline, 0800 WAITAKI (0800-924-8254), has been launched to link members of the Waitaki Valley community with a friendly, listening ear 24 hours a day, every day.
Under the umbrella of the Waitaki Valley Community Society, the initiative was started in reaction to the stress farming communities are facing due to the low dairy payout, and the impact that could have on mental health.
''The people of the Waitaki Valley and [Hakataramea] have a rural economy as their backbone,'' co-ordinator Carron Cossens said.
''My plan was to have [the helpline] in place for the start of the new year, but the events within the rural economy have made me decide that we needed more immediate action.''
Ms Cossens said people could easily become isolated in the Waitaki Valley.
''Needs have been identified around the theme of connection,'' she said.
''I think we need to develop resilience, particularly in small communities where you don't have the option to go anonymously to a helping agency.''
The ''Neighbour to Neighbour'' concept built on the mental health foundation tenet of connection being integral to a person's wellbeing - a problem shared was a problem halved, she said.
''It is not intended to replace trained professional help, but as a bridge to accessing appropriate support, if it is needed or wanted,'' she said.
The service will be trialled for the Waitaki Valley community and extended to the Hakataramea Valley, giving a total population base of about 1115 people.
Ms Cossens would be able to take calls and arrange face-to-face visits during the day.
Other volunteers would be on call in the evenings.
The service was loosely based on the model of peer support, Ms Cossens said, and the overarching goal was empowerment of the caller.
''It may be that only 2% of our population take up the service, but that will be 2% that make it worthwhile,'' she said.
A training session was held last week for the volunteers, who were coached in appropriate skills.
Fortnightly peer review meetings and skill sessions will be held during the trial.
Four St John volunteers will man the phone over the trial period.
A management team has been set up consisting of Ms Cossens and members of the Waitaki Valley Community Society, the Kurow Medical Trust and Safer Waitaki.
If the trial is successful, the Safer Waitaki governance board could extend the service to Oamaru.
