Mental health advocacy is particularly critical in rural areas, where resources are often scarce, and the stigma surrounding mental health can be more pronounced. It is essential to adapt counselling practices to account for the unique life experiences and contextual factors of these communities. Through our active participation in interagency meetings, Rural Health Group collaborate with local agencies and community groups to address the unique mental health needs of our local rural communities.

By engaging in advocacy groups, Rural Health Group can work to bridge the gap in mental health knowledge, helping individuals recognise and cope with mental health challenges. This approach not only supports individual well-being but also addresses broader social inequalities in mental health care, leading to more resilient and healthier rural communities.

Suicide Prevention Advocacy Group

Central Queensland Rural Health has long advocated for collaboration and integration across health services. In 2017, we received funding from the Central Queensland, Wide Bay, Sunshine Coast Primary Health Network (now Country to Coast Queensland) to lead the planning of community-based suicide prevention activities across Central Queensland. This project involved consultations with 270 people across six local government areas, resulting in the development of the Central Queensland Suicide Prevention Plan (CQSPP), based on the 9 Lifespan Strategies.

This project was part of a wider endeavour in collaboration with the national stakeholder advocacy group focused on suicide prevention, allowing us to represent the Central Queensland region in this vital program.

As part of the project, we facilitated the formation of Leadership Groups in CQ areas without existing suicide prevention groups and supported those already in place. Local communities took ownership of their own Action Plans to implement the CQSPP, tailoring strategies to their unique needs and form sustainable supports.

While the research project has concluded in 2023, we remain active members of the CQSPP, and information is still available upon request. For more details, please contact our Project Team at (07) 4992 1040.

If you have any immediate concerns regarding the safety/wellbeing of yourself or someone else, please call the Mental Health Access Line: 1300 MH CALL (1300 642 255), Lifeline 13 11 14; or Kids Helpline 1800 55 1800.

In an emergency, contact 000 immediately.

What are Drought Leadership Groups and why do we need them?

The idea to establish Drought Leadership Groups came from consultations with rural and remote community leaders in the North West and Central Queensland regions.

While the role of Drought Leadership Groups will vary from community to community, their broad role is to:

• Support local communities as drought impacts mental health and well-being.
• Develop partnerships which enable the responses to drought to be coordinated to best suit the needs of the community.
• Act as a liaison point for governments so local communities have input into the allocation of drought resources.

Although the context for these leadership groups has been drought, this model is easily transferable to any challenge facing a community, such as flooding, storms or disease etc. The preventative actions taken by these groups in good times can also have a profound positive effect on the resilience of the community during droughts and other challenges.

Below are some highlights from drought research. This information emphasises the need for action on the part of communities.