Rural mental health: Where you can find help in your region

Grassroots mental health services are working overtime to provide support to farmers in need — here’s where you can find them.

A network of rural mental health services running on the smell of an oily rag are bridging the gap in services for farmers seeking treatment for mental health issues.

A plethora of peer-to-peer mental health support services are working independently to provide support to farmers in need – but limited funding is holding them back from having a bigger impact.

Established by grassroots groups or individuals in regional communities, many of the services are left to apply for grants to ensure continued delivery of services, or rely on donations from the public and other organisations.

Rural Health Connect founder Megan Gomez said funding was “always a challenge”, along with trying to increase visibility of the services offered by the foundation, which links those in need with psychologists via telehealth appointments.

“The first barrier is the distances people have to drive for appointments. Also if you need to see someone with a specific area of interest it can be harder … we’re really focused on linking people into the right psychologist for them,” Ms Gomez said.

“Another barrier is the cost … most psychologists on our platform work in private practice and they do some hours for us for people in need, either bulk billed or at significantly-reduced rates.”

Funding for RHC comes from government grants, Ms Gomez said.

“The Medicare rebates offset the cost of the clients, but we’ve got to find money somewhere to pay for other costs,” Ms Gomez said.

Working mothers and farmers stepping up to establish peer-to-peer support groups are often left juggling work, raising children, and the needs of their own farm, while trying to secure funding to run mental health services.

Act for Ag founder Steph Schmidt balances raising her young family and working the family farm with running her foundation.

The trained psychologist said funding Act for Ag – a service which delivers accessible psychological tools to farmers and rural Australians – has been the “trickiest part”, along with juggling her family and farming commitments.

Where you can seek support and guidance for rural mental health in your region.

“It’s a barrier. We’re looking for some commercial partners to come alongside,” Ms Schmidt said.

“Funding would allow me to pull in an extra team member.”

Rural and Remote Mental Health is pushing for government funding to better deliver programs for regional Australians.

A 2022-23 pre-budget submission made by the organisation to the Federal Government has called for a dedicated rural and remote mental health partnership centre, functioning as a granting body.

According to the submission, dedicated government funding for mental health services is “concentrated among a handful of large city-based organisations that do not have the scope or expertise to serve communities beyond regional centres”.

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