The program, an initiative of NSW Health and the University of Newcastle, was originally set up in 2006/2007 in response to the drought and the distress many rural communities were experiencing due to lack of water, loss of crops and stock and the flow-on effects this had on regional economies.

Its focus wasn’t to provide a direct clinical service but to raise understanding of mental health issues and direct rural people to services that could help.

Those behind the program did this by talking to residents at community events, running mental health first aid programs, targeting front-line service providers such as teachers and businesses, and partnering with other agencies such as NSW Farmers and NSW Industry and Investment.

Mr Hart said the efforts of all the agencies involved had led to a gradual change in attitudes towards mental illness in rural communities.

“In the past, I think rural people have been pretty resilient and have tended to want to weather the storm,” he said.

“But more and more people are now taking advantage of the services that are available to seek help for themselves and their family and friends.

“It's hard to measure, but when you see a well-known farmer get up in front of his town and his peers and say, ‘I had depression’, it’s a very brave thing to do.

“I think people are increasingly seeing mental health problems as general health problems.”

Mr Hart said the program had since shifted its focus from the drought to the broader problems of climate variability and the financial impacts of global terms of trade.

“What it's really about is the rate of change we're going through,” he said.

“There’s always been an issue but at this point in time we're going through a rapid rate of change and it can be difficult to cope with that.”

The new Orange Base Hospital will add to support services with 10 child and adolescent beds in the mental health unit.

Importance

of early

detection

GETTING advice early is crucial for tackling anxiety and depression, says beyondblue deputy CEO Dr Nicole Highet.

More than two million Australians are affected by anxiety every year, making it our most common mental health problem, followed by depression, which affects approximately one million Australians.

Approximately 50 per cent of sufferers will experience both conditions at the same time.

“Whilst common, both depression and anxiety can be very debilitating and can significantly impact on a person's ability to function from day to day,” Dr Highet said.

“It's important to learn about the conditions and to learn about the signs or symptoms.”

Dr Highet said people who thought they might be suffering from either illness should immediately seek more information, which was available on the beyondblue website or through the beyondblue information line (see fact box page 5).

“A GP is a very good first point of call and remember the faster you get advice, the quicker you can act on it,” she said. "Getting on to it early is really important.”