Rural and remote people are the backbone of the Australian economy, yet they face some of the most significant disparities in Australia, impacting their health outcomes.

The Healthy Minds Program and the National Rural and Remote Suicide Prevention Program provide crisis intervention and mental wellbeing care to under-resourced and disadvantaged communities in rural and remote NSW.

This program is a pioneering initiative co-designed with rural and remote communities, empowering them to shape the services they need under the guidance of trained professionals. Its design focuses on crisis intervention and mental well-being. It is a nurse-led program led by a team of Registered Nurses who specialise in Mental Health and supported by Aboriginal Wellness workers, Peer workers, Social Workers, and Community Engagement Officers.

A main highlight of the design is our collaborative agreements with psychologists and other allied mental health specialists to support and increase access to services for people living in rural and remote NSW.
Ensuring that people needing crucial mental health services are supported at the right place and time - by a skilled, well-resourced, and sustainable workforce. To achieve increased mental health literacy and decrease the prevalence of suicide and the impact of poor mental health in rural and remote communities.

8 clinicians cover approx. 250,000kms to service approx. 40,000 people. Since June 2023 (the program's inception), we have provided crisis interventions for over 250 people in rural and remote NSW.

Critical challenges encountered are funding constraints (currently funded by a Commonwealth grant); the program is not sustainable under the current Medicare Benefits Scheme, further impacted by health politics. Competition between multiple services creates disharmony because they compete for the same pot of funding. To create a sustainable and ongoing program, funding is required to reduce ongoing barriers for clients accessing and navigating services in disadvantaged communities.

Three Key Learnings:

1. Understanding collaborative partnership by enhancing mental wellbeing/suicide prevention delivery and promoting holistic care with communities and mental health professionals.
2. Understand the potential impact of a nurse-led crisis intervention model.
3. Provide an understanding of safety for rural and remote communities with a sustainable program and ongoing funding.