Will to Live Charitable Trust New Zealand

Suicide in rural New Zealand is higher than any other demographic having a lasting ripple effect through a community - especially with our young people, who are often the largest statistic.

Will To Live is a Rural Health Charitable Trust founded in 2018 by Elle Perriam after her partner, a young farmer unfortunately took his own life. Will To Live have been promoting mental health awareness, providing one on one support, free education and wellbeing tools to small rural communities, often isolated from mental health resources.

In 2019 Will To Live hosted a nationwide "Speak Up Tour" in 18 locations throughout rural NZ in 2019, reaching over 10,000 farmers. These events changed the culture on how we talk about mental illness, and promoted how we collectively can combat depression.

Will To Live also shares powerful stories of hope, creates content, and video series on farmers that have suffered from and beaten mental illness.

In September 2021 Will To Live will be launching “RuralChange” which is fund for private psychologists for New Zealand Farmers. This was motivated by the devastatingly long 8 week waiting lists to see a psychologist or counsellor currently in the public health system.

The RuralChange fund will provide 3x private counselling sessions per farmer with the aim of only a 2-3 day waiting time. This fund will be easily accessible to anyone employed, managing or owning a farming operation in NZ. The cost per hour session can range from $150-$250.

All fundraising efforts and donations will go towards the RuralChange fund.