MENTAL HEALTH

IN RURAL AREAS

Rural and remote areas face several challenges regarding mental health and are listed under the special needs groups for mental healthcare in Australia.

Rural areas face problems such as chronic conditions and disability, drug use, less financial security, housing stress, risk of natural disasters.

2/3 of Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander people live in rural areas, and are more likely to suffer from psychological distress.

Rate of suicide and self-harm in rural areas is almost double the amount in major cites.

Lack of awareness and education in rural areas leads to stigma

Lack of mental health services

OUR POLICY

We will provide mental health services and education to rural areas in Australia by building mental health centres as extensions to pre-existing hospitals.

Funded by a section of the $5.7 billion allocated by the government to improve on mental health services.

The policy will benefit the government budget in the long term:
- Will provide jobs such as builders, architects, mental health workers, etc., and will reduce the money that the government has to spend to assist unemployment