Mental health: long wait times for treatment in the regions

Farmers and regional Australian in the grip of a mental health crisis are often facing a months-long wait to get help.

Regional Australians are facing lengthy waits to access mental health services and treatment, with some forced to wait several months for proper care and support in crisis.

And with funding for some mental health programs and care services hanging in the balance, a more structured, ag-specific approach to farmer mental health support is urgently needed, industry experts say.

One in four Australians sought mental health support in the past six months, with more than 70 per cent waiting more than two months for services, an Australian Healthcare Index report released late last year shows.

Exact data on regional and rural wait times was not available, but the anecdotal evidence from regional health providers echoes the national findings.

National Centre for Farmer Health director Alison Kennedy said wait times for accessing a GP (often the first port of call when seeking mental health services) could take up to a month in rural areas.

“If people are looking for in-person care and support … it can take weeks. I live in a rural community, and am not a farmer, and it can easily take four weeks to get a GP appointment,” Dr Kennedy said.

She said mental health support was available by telehealth, which could be “reasonably quick” to access.

“We’ve been working with a telehealth provider, training their psychologists to have that understanding of farmer health, and that creates a pathway for support for within a few days of inquiries.”

With funding for the NCFH beyond 2023 yet to be confirmed in the upcoming state budget, Dr Kennedy said now was the time to look at further bolstering services to best help farmers, such as investment in peer-to-peer services, where farmers could speak to someone who understood their lifestyle and industry.

Rural and Remote Mental Heath chief executive Joe Hooper encouraged more early intervention and locally-based solutions to support for farming communities.

“We need pathways to escalate assistance when needed but a GP may not be the necessary first point of contact,” he said.

“A conversation with an RUOK message and a trained listening ear from someone trusted in the community may be the first step to seeking help, or not needing acute services if early intervention is available.”

A national study of farmers’ mental health released last week by dairy company Norco and the National Farmers’ Federation, showed almost one in 10 farmers suffering with mental health issues felt unsupported, with 15 per cent of those surveyed saying they could not access help, or did not know where to get help.

If you or someone you know is experiencing distress, call Lifeline on 131 114, or text 0477 131 114.