People in drought-affected communities need access to mental health services that meet their particular needs, given the additional stresses and prolonged pressures associated with severe drought.
The Government is committing $30.7 million to improve the delivery of mental health support and services to drought-affected rural and remote communities. As part of this, $20.6 million over four years will be provided to up to 114 additional allied health and/or mental health nursing professionals in drought-affected areas through the existing Mental Health Services in Rural and Remote Areas initiative.
This includes a further $10.1 million will be delivered through the Mental Health Support for Drought-affected Communities initiative. This will provide crisis counselling services for distressed individuals in drought-declared rural areas, as well as education and training for clinicians and community leaders. It will also increase the capacity of communities to respond to drought-related psychological trauma. Funding will be provided to up to 39 individual Divisions of General Practice covering a wide range of drought-affected rural and remote communities throughout Australia.