“Tough” men are seeking help from the Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) mental health team which is reaching more people through new federal funding.
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Team members, who have grown from three to 15 in 18 months, work out of RFDS facilities including its Dubbo base.
They now regularly fly to remote clinics to treat patients who can also seek help “over the phone, via online video chat and Telehealth”.
This week RFDS (South Eastern Section) chief executive Greg Sam said the federal funding announced in 2018 allowed it to meet “demand for extra services”.
“Remote Australians see mental health professionals on average at one fifth the rate of city people,” he said.
“Some parts of country Australia have no registered psychologists.”
Mr Sam said the funding would allow the team “to offer more regular care than has previously been available”.
Ms Sam’s colleague, general manager health service development Jenny Beach, said the money allowed the team to “fill the gaps”.
“We now work with people right across the scale, from mild issues where they might be stressed, not sleeping or lonely, to more moderate issues that require longer-term management, and helping people who have complex mental illnesses to manage the problem, make it better or make sure it doesn’t exacerbate,” she said.
The team is also trialing “weekend wellness intensives” in remote communities involving activities such as golf, fishing, yoga and a community dinner. Louth will host such an event in May.
In a bid to ensure mental health support is available across the state, the team has partnered with other providers.
Ms Beach is “so incredibly proud” of the team’s efforts and “visionary plan for the future”.
“I’ve watched this team in action and I find it incredible the way they have engaged with these country communities and taken the stigma out of mental health,” she said.
“Tough men in the bush who live in that space where people never spoke about this kind of thing are now coming to us, and it warms your heart to see it.
”As the drought continues we’re going to have a massive need for the team out there, and as we are already present in those communities, we will be able to help when we’re needed.”
The team includes counsellors, psychologists, mental health nurses, community engagement, peer and clinical support workers, trainees and the RFDS Alcohol and Other Drugs team.
Communities in the western and far western NSW regions which will continue to benefit from the mental health team’s skills and experience include Dubbo, Broken Hill, Ivanhoe, Hungerford, Innamincka, Louth, Menindee, Tibooburra, Wanaaring, Cobar, White Cliffs, Wiawera, Wilcannia, Yunta, Pooncarrie, Moomba, Tilpa and Packsaddle.
Stations throughout far west NSW are also receiving mental health services.
The RFDS mental health program operates alongside its emergency and primary health services provided by doctors, nurses, Aboriginal health practitioners and dental teams.
To access the RFDS mental health program contact a GP or call RFDS mental health nurse Vanessa Latham on 08 8080 3777. For emergency help, dial triple zero.
Support can also be found through Lifeline on 13 11 14, Kids Helpline on 1800 551 800, Mensline Australia on 1300 789 978 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.
