FINANCIAL counsellors in the Wheatbelt are reporting increased levels of depression and drug and pornography addiction as several tough seasons in a row take their toll.
Rural Financial Counselling Service chief executive officer Chris Wheatcroft said a combination of isolation and financial difficulties had pushed many individuals and families to breaking point.
But Mr Wheatcroft was conscious of not focusing too much on the negatives as he realised many communities were doing wonderful things to support its members.
He said, however, communities needed to be aware of these problems in order to deal with them.
"Rural communities are made up of very smart people who make very good decisions," he said.
"But if they don't know what is going on, they cannot make the changes."
Mr Wheatcroft said last week that reports from a clinical psychologist working in the Wheatbelt indicated there were also increasing instances of women struggling to deal with their husbands who refused to acknowledge their financial situation.
"The notion we have of a beautiful farming community functioning well is not right," he said.
"We have to start challenging the myth that it is all okay.
"These aren't just individual problems, they are community issues and people need to be aware of the warning signs.
"There are some very desperate people out there and it is not simply about money although I do think profitability is the key cause."
Six additional Rural Financial Counselling positions have recently been funded by the State and Federal Governments as part of Farm Assistant Packages.
Mr Wheatcroft said a majority of those positions had been filled to help cope with what some would call a crisis.
