People living with mental health problems in rural and remote Australia are at a greater risk of stigma, social disconnection, untreated illness and chronic health problems than those residing in larger centres, warns Charles Sturt University (CSU) academic and clinical psychologist Dr Gene Hodgins.

 

“Mental health needs occur in a unique context in rural Australia and therefore the treatments of conditions need to take into account these circumstances,” said Dr Hodgins.

 

“In rural and remote Australia, factors such as social isolation, limited knowledge of mental health issues, poor access to primary health care, a relative lack of privacy, increased carer burden and reduced access to transport all contribute to that unique context.”

 

In addition to these factors is the lack of skilled professional mental health workers in inland Australia.

 

“Over 90 per cent of psychiatrists are based in the metropolitan centres yet one third of Australians live in rural or remote areas. The figures for qualified psychologists are not much better, with about 15 per cent having a non-metropolitan address.”

 

The education of psychologists at CSU is one practical step being undertaken to overcome this barrier in rural mental health.

 

“As the University is developing in a wide range of professions, psychologists are being trained at CSU in the knowledge that those graduates who are educated in regional Australia are more likely to stay and work in inland centres. It is now possible to complete university training requirements to become a psychologist at CSU, both internally in Wagga Wagga and Bathurst, and by distance education. We also offer postgraduate specialist training in clinical psychology,” he said.

 

 

Dr Hodgins will address the issue of mental health from a rural perspective during a public lecture in the south-western NSW town of West Wyalong on Wednesday 13 August. During the lecture, he will outline practical ways rural people can offer support and assistance to people with mental health issues and the barriers which need to be overcome to improve rural mental health services.

 

Dr Hodgins grew up in Wagga Wagga before pursuing postgraduate qualifications in Melbourne. He has also worked as a clinical psychologist in Melbourne and regional Victoria. Dr Hodgins is part of a team of lecturers in psychology who work through the CSU School of Humanities and Social Sciences in Wagga Wagga, with other staff located in Albury and Bathurst.

 

His professional interests focus on post-trauma reactions in emergency service personnel, anxiety and mood disorders, rural primary mental health care and clinical psychology education and training.