Don’t Call Us ‘Resilient’- Getting mental health support for your community

 How do you feel when your town or region is called ‘resilient’? It seems a lot of rural people are tired of hearing this word and instead would rather genuine, well-funded support for the mental health.

According to Rural and Remote Mental Health (RRMH), the rates of suicide in regional Australia are two times higher than the national average. In rural areas, it’s three times higher. 

 Chair of RRMH Genevieve Fraser says rural mental health lacks government funding and the support itself isn’t culturally sensitive. Basically, it just doesn’t fit the realities and pressures of rural life.

 But while we might not feel like we can change how rural mental health is funded, there is actually a lot we can do to help our neighbours. Lauren Stracey is a psychologist from Rural Aid who talks about how rural towns can best heal together after a disaster and how each of us can strike up a conversation with someone, if we can see they’re struggling.

 ***We’re looking for episode sponsors! If you’re a rural woman with a business or organisation you’d like to promote, or have an idea for a collaboration, send us an email: [email protected]  Or send us a DM over Instagram. We’d love to hear from you!

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