News that western Queensland's leading mental health service providers have seen their service rates more than double in the past year gave a strong impetus to the Central West Mental Health Roundtable held at Longreach this week.
According to Western Queensland Primary Health Network CEO Stuart Gordon, the consensus at the meeting was that the success in meeting the need largely brought on by ongoing stress associated with climate catastrophes lay in continual collaboration and having services right across the spectrum.
Acknowledging that it was important to keep working to remove barriers to people's self-management of their mental health, two new digital platforms will be introduced.
They are Beyond Blue's New Access coaching program and the Weathering Well app, which Mr Gordon said would be delivered through the Rural Financial Counselling Service, that RAPAD manages in northern Queensland.
"The financial counsellors are working with a lot of vulnerable people who can be experiencing a lot of stress," he said.
"When we first got together 12 months ago, RAPAD brought raw honesty to the table, from the mayors' positions on the ground.
"We wanted to know, are the services out there working. Are they keeping people upright or picking them up afterwards.
"We knew that one size doesn't fit all but we wanted to concentrate particularly on the delivery of low-intensity services that were built around early intervention."
Mr Gordon said the important thing to note was that this approach was having positive results 12 months on.
The WQPHN's health intelligence data shows an 82 per cent rise in the number of clients being seen by PHN-funded mental health support services in the central west in the past year, a rise to more than 700 people in 2018/19.
There's also been a significant increase in the role local GPs are playing in treating mental health patients, with a 40pc rise in the uptake of mental health treatment plans, a process where care is planned and managed.
"It does suggest people are now more aware and that local general practices are responding well to this increased demand, better equipped with knowledge, and better connected to the right services to provide the right care at the right time for those experiencing mental health issues." Mr Gordon said.
"There has been a combined approach, working as a team across agencies and ensuring new services on the ground are hardwired to integrate and support one another, keeping each other informed and ensuring the community is aware of all options.
"What's also been critical is the leadership and strong advocacy of our councils, many of whom are leading the way in changing attitudes across providers and community."
Mr Gordon pointed to the Barcaldine Regional Council's inter-generational Head Yakka approach and the Blackall-Tambo Regional Council's focus on health and fitness and its flow-on effects to mental health as examples.
Barcoo shire mayor Bruce Scott was full of praise for the roundtable and the WQPHN aims, saying that having all stakeholders in a room together discussing how people were dealing with modern life and modern agriculture was positive.
"To be able to have questions answered from clinicians and other frontline services was good - a very genuine effort is being made," he said.
Over 50 took part in the meeting and Mr Gordon said there had been lots of discussion around trusted advocates.
He said it was important to recognise the inherent strength of remote communities, and the willingness of locals to help themselves and build on their own capacity to recover.
"In most instances, anxiety and depression are not lifelong conditions and it is very important to access care early and get support so things can be managed correctly," Mr Gordon said.
"That's why we see it as important to strengthen partnerships and ensure there are a range of well-connected service options available to communities, including non-clinical low intensity services that help to keep conversations going, but have direct linkage to clinical supports if these are necessary."
Sally Gall
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
Based at Blackall, CW Qld, where I've raised a family, run Merino sheep and beef cattle, and helped develop a region - its history, tourism, education and communications. Get in touch at 0427 575 955 if you've got a story idea for me.
