What are common mental health issues faced by people in rural or remote areas?

Your mental health is part of your overall health and wellbeing. You need good mental health to:

• enjoy life
• have healthy relationships
• help you overcome challenges

Recognising when you need help and support is very important.

The usual challenges of modern life can include:

• family or relationship problems
• problems with work
• financial difficulties

People who live far away from an urban centre may also experience additional stresses, and have a higher rate of:

• chronic illness and disability
• social isolation and loneliness
• smoking, alcohol and drug misuse
• financial stress, often due to fewer employment options
• effects of natural disasters
• housing stress and homelessness

If you live in a rural or remote area, these factors can increase your chance of having a mental health problem.

Due to dangerous and stressful work, farmers in rural and remote areas may also have a higher chance of having mental health challenges.

People who live in rural and remote areas are more likely to self-harm or die by suicide compared to the general Australian population.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people make up a high portion of rural populations. They are around twice as likely as non-Indigenous Australians to have mental health problems.

Living rurally can also introduce barriers to mental health care.

CHECK YOUR SYMPTOMS — Use the Symptom Checker and find out if you need to seek medical help.

What are the signs you or someone you know may need mental health support?

Signs that you or someone you know may need support are:

• having physical symptoms such as headaches or an upset stomach
• feeling irritable, angry or having mood swings
• changes to appetite or sleep patterns
• feeling helpless or hopeless
• an increased use of alcohol or other drugs
• withdrawing from family, friends and enjoyable activities
• money problems or concerns

Find out more about the signs of mental health issues.

How do I look after my mental health when living in a rural or remote area?

There are many ways you can look after your mental health, such as by:

• practicing healthy habits
• building resilience
• building healthy relationships
• making time to do things you enjoy

It's important to listen to yourself. Recognise when things are getting too much for you, and you're no longer coping. This is when you should get help and support.

It can be harder to engage with mental health support when you live in rural and remote areas due to stigma or fear of judgement. Try to prioritise your mental health.

You can start by looking at the mental health resources that are available for you in your area. Remember, you are not alone.

Read more on rural and remote health for advice on how to maintain good general health in remote areas.

Where can I get help?

It's vital to get support if you are struggling with your mental health.

If you live rurally or remotely, this might mean:

• speaking with friends and family
• seeing a health professional
• calling a mental health helpline

Mental health services

Seeing your doctor is a good first step to managing your mental health.

They can help to:

• refer you to a mental health professional such as a psychologist or counsellor
• connect you with services based on your need and location
• build a mental health treatment plan

A mental health treatment plan can help cover the cost of some mental health care. Your plan will depend on:

• your mental health condition
• your symptoms
• how bad your symptoms are

It may be hard to access mental health care when you live far from an urban centre. You may need to travel a long distance to see a health professional.

Your doctor may offer telehealth, either online or over the phone. You won't need to travel to get specialist advice if telehealth is available.

In some remote regions, the Royal Flying Doctor Service offers telehealth services.

They can help you manage both acute (short term or sudden) and chronic (ongoing) mental health problems.

You can read more about rural and remote health services in your state.

Family and friends

If you live in a remote or rural area, your local social network can be a great support for when times are hard.

Online therapy

If you find it difficult to access care, there are online therapies that can help. These include programs through This Way Up and MindSpot.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbots are emerging as a digital mental health tool. AI tools should not yet be considered a replacement for therapy. Current evidence for AI in mental health is promising, but more research is needed.

Crisis support

You can also visit the Lifeline website to speak with someone online.

If you are having a personal crisis and need to speak with someone, you can also call:

• the Suicide Call Back Service for anyone thinking about suicide — 1300 659 467
• Kids Helpline for kids, teens and young adults aged below 25 years — 1800 55 1800
• MensLine for Australian men — 1300 78 99 78

Visit the healthdirect page on mental health helplines for a comprehensive list of support services.

FIND A HEALTH SERVICE — The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services.

Resources and support

Resources for people living in rural and remote areas

The National Centre for Farmer Health has information and programs to improve the health, wellbeing and safety of farming and remote communities across Australia.

Rural & Remote Mental Health deliver programs in rural and mining communities across Australia.

Rural aid offers free, confidential counselling to farmers and their families. You can call their counselling line on 1300 175 594.

Royal Flying Doctors Services (RFDS) provides mental health programs and services to those living in rural and remote Australia.

You can visit the My Aged Care website for information on support for people in rural and remote areas. You can call them on 1800 200 422.

Lifeline has information on mental health in rural communities.

Resources for general mental health

Headspace provides confidential support for people aged 12 to 25 years and their families. You can call them on 1800 650 890 or chat online.

You can call Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636 or chat online if you are feeling depressed or anxious.

Black Dog Institute provides online help for anyone affected by mood disorders.

You can call SANE Australia on 1800 187 263 or chat online if you are living with a mental illness and need support.

For advice and to get connected to local mental health services, call Medicare Mental Health on 1800 595 212. Check the operating times.

Call Pregnancy, Birth and Baby to speak to a maternal child health nurse on 1800 882 436 or video call. Available 7am to midnight (AET), 7 days a week.

You can also call the healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 (known as NURSE-ON-CALL in Victoria). A registered nurse is available to speak with 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander peoples

The National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) is the peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health.

The Rural & Remote Mental Health website has programs for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander individuals and Communities.

Australian Indigenous HealthInfoNet offers information on social and emotional wellbeing.

For mental health support, you can call 13YARN (13 92 76).

If you are an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander man who is struggling, you can also call the Brother to Brother crisis line on 1800 435 799.

Do you prefer to read in languages other than English?

The Australian Government has resources available in different languages, such as their guide to digital mental health services.

Looking for information for sexually and gender-diverse people?

Qlife provides a counselling and referral service for LGBTIQA+ people. You can call them on 1800 184 527 or visit their website to chat online.