Stress management programmes have been launched for kiwifruit growers who, because of the sudden and devastating effects of the deadly virus   PSa –V, are facing huge uncertainty over the fate of their orchards, and their industry.

Tauranga psychologist Leanne Dunne, told Country 99TV she has been helping host the stress management workshops which are vital for ensuring growers know they do have options.

“I’m talking about just being psychologically prepared and psychologically ready for whatever is going to happen. Because what people are saying to me is 'there’s nothing we can do about this' – and that’s that sense of helplessness.

"I’ve used a lot of the work of Dr Bob Montgomery’s which is based around bush fires in terms of helping people see that there are things they can do, they can prepare for it. They can look at the worst case scenario and then prepare back from that and manage their reactions around it.” 

Leanne Dunne says it is completely normal for growers to feel stressed but overall the industry is proving to be very resilient.

“It’s very unusual to have this sense of helplessness because normally they’re quite practical people and they just find a way to get through things.

"This one’s really thrown them because they can’t do a great deal about it right now. Also no one really knows the full impact of it yet and  it creates anxiety. We’ve been talking to them about how to manage the inevitable anxiety that is there.”