A new digital tool helping producers in drought and flood-stricken areas has been described as a groundbreaking mental health innovation.
The "Weathering Well" trial initiative was launched in Charleville on Friday, offering a custom counselling system that lets locals help each other in isolated areas.
Western Queensland Primary Health Network chief executive Stuart Gordon said Weathering Well was a "game changer".
"Weathering Well is a game-changer because it has the potential in a matter of months to exponentially increase the reach of mental health support in the bush, without the need to throw tens of millions of dollars at additional staff and infrastructure,” he said.
“There is a tipping point with mental illness where sufferers will start to travel down a very slippery slope if we don’t get to them early enough, exacerbated by a combination of isolation, the stigma of seeking clinical help, and the current challenges with the drought and floods."
Federal Agriculture Minister and Maranoa MP David Littleproud launched the tool during a trip to Charleville on Friday.
"I know from growing up and working in the bush most of my life that conversations about mental health out here often start over a cup of tea and a scone with your neighbor, a yarn with your bank manager, or with the local mayor, who also happens to run the newsagency,” he said.
“The population in my electorate is scattered across more than 700,000 square kilometres, so it’s almost impossible to reach out to everyone suffering hardship using conventional means, whereas this approach harnesses existing, trusted networks in a clever, sustainable way."
Psychologist Selena Gomersall said Weathering Well would supplement, not replace, existing tools and services.
"This is not about denying at-risk people the opportunity to see a psychologist, on the contrary, this service will help plug patients who need additional care into a vast referral network of GPs, counsellors, advisers or specialists who often only get to sufferers when they’re very sick,” she said.
“I’ve been delivering counselling services to rural and remote communities for decades and this is one of the most exciting innovations in mental health I’ve seen during my time in the outback."
