The founder of a pioneering mental health service knows "often the hardest decision" for people struggling with issues is "to pick up the phone to connect" with help.
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Virtual Psychologist CEO Dervla Loughnane, who will visit Dubbo on Thursday, says the service is an alternative that offers "a safe and private space, providing all styles of counselling for different situations over text".
The service reports 60 per cent of the people who have used its text services say they would not have reached out for any psychological help if text counselling had not been available.
With Orana region communities facing a range of hardships, Virtual Psychologist is working to reach more people in need and it has the support of a major telco.
Optus is bringing the Virtual Psychologist roadshow to Dubbo, and Coonabarabran, Gilgandra, Narromine and Mendooran this week.
"Often the hardest decision is to pick up the phone to connect with people," Ms Loughnane said.
"Many people say that phone or face to face services are too confronting, embarrassing, inconvenient or simply not available.
Our Virtual Psychologist service offers a safe and private space...
- Virtual Psychologist CEO Dervla Loughnane
"Our Virtual Psychologist service offers a safe and private space, providing all styles of counselling for different situations over text.
"Our service is available at any time and accessible within areas of mobile coverage, so individuals are no longer limited by where counselling services are located.
"By bringing the roadshow to Dubbo, we aim to reach those with counselling services who otherwise would not have considered arranging an appointment and going in person."
Optus Territory general manager Tom O'Dea said the company was looking to support the region.
"More and more communities across regional Australia are coming face to face with relentless droughts, bushfires and heatwaves," he said.
"It's devastating to see how this is affecting the livelihoods as well as the mental health of those living in these affected areas.
"These communities are facing significant daily hardship which adds to the existing challenge of living in areas which can be isolated from friends or family.
"We are grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the Virtual Psychologist and bring their valuable services to Dubbo.
"The roadshow will offer support to locals by providing contacts for them to confide in and be reminded they can seek support whenever they need by simply sending a text."
Thursday's roadshow event will be held at the Dubbo RSL Memorial Club from 8am to 10am, and all members of the public are encouraged to come along.