The NSW Labor Leader visited the University of Newcastle run centre to discuss how to structure a royal commission into mental health and suicide.

"We need a Royal Commission so we can hear from people with mental health conditions and ensure everyone gets the help and support they need," Ms McKay said.

She said new data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare reveals tragically high rates of suicide in the Central West, above the national average of 12.9 deaths per 100,000 people.

Ms McKay said in Orange Between 2015 and 2019, 37 people took their lives in Orange at a rate of 13.3 deaths per 100,000 people and Dubbo recorded 51 deaths by suicide - a rate of 14.2 deaths per 100,000.

"The royal commission will look at staffing, it will look at service delivery, it will look at best practice, it will look at where services are and where they are not, and importantly it will be an opportunity for people to share their stories," Ms McKay said.

"The royal commission will look at staffing, it will look at service delivery, it will look at best practice, it will look at where services are and where they are not, and importantly it will be an opportunity for people to share their stories," Ms McKay said.

"Obviously we've had a really tough time in NSW over the last 18 months, we've had a shocking drought, we've had bushfires, we've had the pandemic and of course the recession, and we've had with that mental health challenges right across NSW.

"It's really important that mental health is not put in the too hard basket."

Ms McKay said the Central West was above the state average when it came to suicide and there are a range of issues that need to be addressed.

"I think that given the difficult times that we've gone through that mental health services haven't kept pace with that," she said.

"I think that when you look at the drought and the bushfires in particular that's in rural and regional NSW and the services just aren't there.

"I'm not just talking about primary care, I'm talking about community mental health and I think that the services the government offers don't meet the needs of rural and region communities and they do need to reach all rural and regional communities."

Ms McKay said young people in particular have asked for access to mental health services in regional areas.

"Where ever I go and I say to someone talk to me about the issues that you want us to address, mental health and youth suicide is one of the biggest issues that come up," she said.

"In most cases they don't even know where it is, they don't know how to access it and they don't know what services are available and how they can help them.

She said the government has indicated it will place school councillors in schools right across NSW, and there will be 100 mental health nurses in schools across the state.

"So far we have a school councillor for every 700 students and that's not good enough," she said.

"I also want to remind people that the parliamentary inquiry in rural and remote health begins next year. Submissions for that close next week.

"I'm urging people if you have a story you want to share, if you work within the health service, please put a submission into this inquiry.

"We get one go at exposing what these deficiencies are, we get one go at putting pressure on government to deliver better services in rural areas and that's what this parliamentary commission is about."

Centre director Professor David Perkins said the facility looks at the wellbeing of people across rural, remote and regional NSW.

He said this year people have been affected by fire, flood, drought and COVID-19 and now we are approaching the anniversary of the bushfires.

"We want to make sure all the politicians are aware of what we face outside of Sydney," Professor Perkins said.

"There are still some people in the state who are in drought, there are still some people getting grass fires."

If you or anyone you know is suffering from mental health issues, reach out and get support available to you: