Beyond The Back Paddock with Leila McDougall

Leila McDougall, a magnetic entrepreneur and influential advocate for Women in Agriculture, is on a mission to promote, support, and celebrate farming life. Her diverse career, spanning from  fashion designer to rural teacher, now sees her donning the hat of filmmaker, spearheading her latest venture – the feature film

“Just a Farmer”. 

Official Trailer to Just A Farmer

Summary: Leila shares her journey from growing up on a farm to becoming an advocate for mental health in rural communities. She discusses her experience with dyslexia and how it shaped her as an educator. Leila also talks about her involvement in various initiatives, such as starting a non-profit organization and participating in pageants, to raise awareness about mental health and promote agriculture. She explains her motivation behind releasing a movie that highlights the challenges faced by farmers and encourages conversations about mental health and the undervalued role of farmers in society. The conversation explores the key themes of mental health, generational mental health, the impact of suicide on families, the silence surrounding suicide, and the importance of open communication. Leila shares her personal experiences and research on these topics, highlighting the stigma and blame associated with suicide. The movie 'The Farmer' addresses these themes and aims to start conversations and raise awareness. Leila also discusses her goals and dreams, including winning an Academy Award and continuing to tell Australian stories.   Takeaways:

• Leila's experience with dyslexia taught her to embrace her unique abilities and use them to solve problems.
• She is passionate about helping others and has been involved in various initiatives to raise awareness about mental health and support rural communities.
• Leila believes in the power of storytelling and wanted to create a movie that would generate empathy and understanding for farmers and their mental health struggles.
• She hopes that the movie will spark conversations and encourage people to appreciate the sacrifices made by farmers and the importance of mental health in rural communities. Mental health is a key theme in the movie 'The Farmer', addressing topics such as despair, failure, guilt, shame, stigma, and the impact of suicide on families.
• The movie highlights the blame and stigma associated with suicide, particularly towards the spouse of the deceased.
• The silence surrounding suicide is a significant issue, with people avoiding conversations and not offering support to those affected.
• Generational mental health is explored, with the movie depicting the impact of mental health struggles within families.
• Open communication and support within families are crucial in navigating mental health challenges.
• Leila's goals include continuing to act and tell Australian stories, with a dream of winning an Academy Award.
• The movie 'The Farmer' aims to start conversations, raise awareness, and potentially save lives by addressing mental health and rural challenges.

    Chapters:   00:00 Introduction and Childhood 02:54 The Power of Conversation 09:03 Embracing Dyslexia and Becoming an Educator 13:36 From Farming to Advocacy 21:12 Leila's Acting Journey 26:57 The Motivation Behind the Movie 29:38 Shining a Light on Farmers and Mental Health 33:29 Exploring Mental Health in 'The Farmer' 44:31 The Impact of Suicide on Families 49:06 Generational Mental Health 53:02 The Stigma and Blame Surrounding Suicide 56:33 The Power of Open Communication 59:28 Leila's Dreams and Goals   Official Trailer to Just