Mental Health Issues in Rural and Remote Australian Communities

The following information is summarised from the Royal Flying Doctor Research Report (2017) titled 'Mental Health in Remote and Rural Communities'.

Mental health is fundamental to physical health and quality life

People who live in rural and remote areas of Australia generally experience poorer health. There are many factors that contribute to this. For example, distance and access to medical care, and increased prevalence of drug and alcohol abuse. In fact people in very remote locations access health services at 1/5th of the rate that people do in major cities.

Approximately 960,000 Australians in rural and remote areas experience mental disorders. Because of this, rural and remote areas see significantly higher suicide and self harm rates than major cities.

Those who are at the highest risk of mental health issues and suicide in rural and remote communities are Indigenous peoples and men. Indigenous adults experience psychological distress at almost three times the rate as non-Indigenous people. Males in rural and remote areas are twice as likely to complete suicide than those who major cities. Issues such as financial hardship, social isolation, intergenerational trauma and reduced access to support do not make life easy for those in rural and remote communities.

This is why Psychs on Bikes takes a special interest in rural and remote areas of Australia. Through our rides, we hope to make a change, how ever big or small.