Mental health mission for regional Australia
A nationwide initiative has been launched to provide regional areas with the education to support themselves and loved ones experiencing mental illness.
Hand to the Land was launched in memory of Jessica Walker, who died by suicide in regional New South Wales in 2003, four days after being released from a psychiatric facility.
“I don’t want what happened to her and to our family to happen to another family,” Jessica’s sister Victoria Walker said.
“If what happened to Jess can make an impact on one family, two families, three families who could have potentially lost a loved one, I think that makes her life worth it.
“Though there are many brilliant organisations tackling access to mental health services, there aren’t any that are addressing the education aspect,” Walker said.
Jessica Walker died in 2003. Photo: Hand to the Land
Hand to the Land recently raised $300,000 to kickstart their practical program which aims to equip friends and family with the skills and knowledge to support loved ones experiencing mental ill health.
The initiative uses these funds to support the Country Education Foundation in providing Mental Health First Aid Australia’s education courses to a broader network, with an initial goal of reaching 300 people across rural Australia.
The program will allow people to become accredited Mental Health First Aiders and is being offered online via instructor-led Zoom sessions, online quizzes and self-paced learning.
The program will be especially welcomed in South Australia, where a review of rural mental health services, released in 2023, found an urgent need to improve services in regional areas.
The report found that just three of the 19.3 full-time positions in South Australia’s rural psychiatry workforce were based in rural communities.
There are 16 mental health services in the whole of regional South Australia, and 25 in Adelaide, according to SA Health.
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Jen McCloy, a friend of Jessica Walker and a founder of Hand to the Land said the program was aimed at everyone from students to parents.
“When a loved one is dealing with mental health challenges many people find that they don’t know what to do,” said Jen McCloy, a friend of Jessica Walker and a founder of Hand to the Land.
“We wanted our call to action to be something simple and practical: a course that wasn’t overwhelming and doesn’t take too long to complete. We want more people to learn the signs of mental health struggles, how to respond to it, and when to seek help,” McCloy said.
To get help 24/7, phone Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467. If you or someone you know are in immediate danger, phone 000 for emergency services.
