• Charles Sturt University researchers lead global movement to improve mental health research in rural and regional communities
• The research team have launched a paper titled ‘International Declaration of rural mental health research: 10 guiding principles and standards’
• The research aims to bridge the gap in funding of mental health research between metropolitan and regional communities

Charles Sturt University researchers are leading a global movement to improve mental health research in regional and rural communities.

The ‘International Declaration of rural mental health research: 10 guiding principles and standards’, which launched at an event in Utrecht, the Netherlands, recently, aims to improve how researchers involve and engage rural communities in research about vital public health issues.

Professor of Management in the Charles Sturt School of Business Russell Roberts and Senior Research Fellow of Rural Public Health (Health Services) in the Rural Health Research InstituteDr Hazel Dalton led the international collaboration with research and health policymakers and funders from Australia, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Dr Dalton said the research resulted from evidence suggesting a disparity in mental health funding and access between metropolitan and regional areas. In addition to this, it was found that research is often conducted on rural communities, but not with them, and without tangible community benefit.

“Per capita research funding for mental health is much lower in rural communities compared to urban communities, as well as less mental health research capacity in these areas,” Dr Dalton  said.

“This is not acceptable, so our research considers what best practice rural mental health research looks like, drawing consensus from a panel of global experts to produce ten strong guiding principles for novice researchers, policymakers and communities to use.”

The research paper provides a comprehensive list of principles to guide and support mental health research with rural communities by including input not just by carers and consumers, but place-based experts and experts by profession working in rural and regional communities.

Dr Dalton said the research articulates how tangible benefits can be delivered ethically, including developing the capacity of local stakeholders through activities such as training in research methods, the use of new technologies, community engagement, advocacy and leadership.

“We understand the importance of building trust between researchers and community, especially trust which is built on respect, commitment and appreciation of data sovereignty,” she said.

“During our soft launch in Utrecht, attendees noted the tangible nature of this declaration and how it can apply to different countries and rural communities to help with their own research, education and philanthropy.”

The research was authored by members of international and national networks, including the Manna Institute, the Rural Behavioural Health Collaborative Special Interest Group of the Global Leadership Exchange for Mental Health, and the authors and supporters of the Orange Declaration on Rural and Remote Mental Health.

The paper is published in the Australian Journal of Rural Health.

The launch event in Utrecht was supported by Dr Octavio Martinez and the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health.