Rural, regional and farming mental health services

Living in a rural or regional area has many benefits, but it can sometimes make it harder to get the support you need. Help is available to those who live in rural locations, including farmers and their families. As a general rule, the more remote your location, the more difficult it can be for health practitioners to service your area.

This means you may need to be proactive about looking after your mental health. People in rural and remote areas, including farmers, can face long-term and wide-ranging sources of stress. Public mental health services in regional areas are often some distance away, or more costly than they are in larger towns and cities.

The culture of independence that helps people get by in lean times can also make them feel as though they should be able to manage problems on their own. For these reasons, many people end up ignoring mental health issues instead of asking for help. Some research suggests that farmers who are depressed may not use the word “depression” to describe how they feel, and may call it “stress” instead.

Stress and depression are not the same#

Stress and depression are different and may require different approaches to treatment.

Stress is a response to a challenging or demanding situation. It occurs when there is an imbalance between the demands being made of you and the resources you have to cope with them. Sometimes stress can be a positive thing that helps you get things done. But if it is causing you discomfort and distress, it can contribute to other mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression.

Depression is more than feeling stressed or down. The symptoms of depression can include:

• Feeling sad or flat, or that life isn’t worth living
• Losing interest and pleasure in normal activities
• Appetite or weight changes (loss of appetite, or comfort eating and weight gain)
• Sleep problems, such as difficulty falling asleep or waking early
• Feeling tired all the time
• Difficulty concentrating
• Feelings of restlessness, agitation, worthlessness or guilt
• Lack of motivation to socialize or exercise

Sources of stress in rural life#

People living and working on the land can face pressures that are less common elsewhere, such as:

• The threat of drought, flooding, fire and pests
• Livestock issues
• Geographic and social isolation
• Financial worries

These pressures can contribute to psychological distress and to mental health conditions such as depression and anxiety.

Asking for help#

Sometimes it can be hard to ask for help or to tell others how you feel. You might feel embarrassed, or worried about being judged. At other times, you might not know where to start. There are many ways of getting support for mental health issues, so it helps to choose an approach that works for you.

Talking is often the best place to start:

• Don’t bottle things up. Talk with loved ones and trusted friends.
• Discuss your worries and feelings with a counselor. Counselors are trained to help you find practical solutions.
• See your local doctor. Your doctor can assess whether you have a mental health condition and advise you on where to find further treatment and support. They can also refer you to a counselor, psychologist or psychiatrist if necessary.

If your doctor decides a Mental Health Treatment Plan is appropriate, this may help you access subsidized visits to mental health professionals, depending on what is available where you live.

Alcohol and mental wellbeing#

Alcohol is not an effective treatment for poor mental wellbeing. It is actually a depressant, so it can make things worse rather than better. If you want to feel better, it helps to find other ways to support your wellbeing.

• If friends or family say you are drinking too much, it is worth taking that seriously.
• Make a deliberate effort to cut back. Try not keeping alcohol in the house and having alcohol-free weeks.
• Seek support if you are finding it hard to cut down. Confidential alcohol and drug counseling and referral services are available by phone and online.

Self-help strategies for wellbeing#

Some proven self-help strategies for improving social and emotional wellbeing include:

• Seeking out trusted sources of information
• Regular exercise and healthy eating
• A regular sleep routine
• Making time to do things you enjoy, including finding things to laugh about
• Keeping socially connected

Your doctor may also suggest a short-term trial of antidepressant medication, depending on your situation.

Key points#

• Stress and depression are not the same and may require different approaches to treatment.
• Alcohol is not an effective treatment for poor mental wellbeing.
• Your doctor can assess whether you have a mental health condition and may recommend a Mental Health Treatment Plan.

Where to get help#