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What we do

Mental health promotion in rural and remote Australia.

Rural & Remote Mental Health develops mental health literacy and suicide prevention training.

Our programs are delivered in rural, Indigenous and mining communities across Australia.

Our grassroots approach empowers people in small, isolated or under-served communities to do what they do best: look out for each other.

We give people the understanding and confidence to care for their mental health, seek help when they need it and support others in their community to do the same.

Mental health promotion in rural and remote Australia.

Rural & Remote Mental Health develops mental health literacy and suicide prevention training.

Our programs are delivered in rural, Indigenous and mining communities across Australia.

Our grassroots approach empowers people in small, isolated or under-served communities to do what they do best: look out for each other.

We give people the understanding and confidence to care for their mental health, seek help when they need it and support others in their community to do the same.

By focusing on prevention, we’re reducing strain on clinical services and potentially saving lives.

Why we do it

Rural and remote communities are doing it tough.

People who don’t live in greater capital cities are 1.5x more likely to suicide than people who do.

Indigenous Australians are 2.75x more likely to suicide than non-Indigenous Australians.

FIFO workers are 3x more likely to report high or very high psychological distress than the average Australian.

Our programs

Rural Minds

Rural Minds addresses the mental health challenges faced by people in rural, pastoral and agricultural
communities.

Deadly Thinking gets Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people talking about what keeps them culturally and spiritually strong.

Resource Minds is shaping the attitudes and behaviours of people who work in the resource and mining sector.

Broader reach

We go where others don’t.

Over 7 million Aussies live in rural and remote areas. That’s more than a quarter of the population.

Making an impact

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communities visited
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presenters
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people trained

Get involved

Help us bridge the mental health gap.

What they say

Words from the people involved

“It was deadly. The workshop gave me a whole new perspective on the way we think, issues and techniques to put in place to help myself and others. I would certainly recommend that others do this training.”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“It was an eye-opener to mental health and just how common it really is and how it links to our safety. I didn’t realise.”

Underground Miner, SA

“This program helped me have a better understanding about mental health (mine included).”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“It inspired me to think about new and innovative ways of raising awareness and preventing mental distress on remote worksites. Since then we have worked with the RRMH team and rolled-out targeted, comprehensive mental health programs which are delivered in an informative yet engaging and humorous manner.”

Manager Health Services, WA

“It opened my eyes and I learnt a lot from attending this training. I could use the tools from this training in my workplace.”

Deadly Thinking Train-the-Trainer Participant

“Relevance to everyday life. Presenters both live and video were true representations of our community.”

Rural Minds Participant, QLD

“I really enjoyed the honesty and style of presentation.”

FIFO Worker, SA

“I really enjoyed yarning with other Aboriginal people.”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“Hopefully it (Resource Minds) hits home to the others as much as it did with me, so we’re all on board, helping each-other.”

Underground Gold Miner, SA

“Very practical training, supportive trainers give you the confidence to learn and apply the skills.”

ASIST Participant, Miles

“Thank you for the valuable workshop – I feel much more confident about my role as a suicide intervention caregiver.”

Rural Minds Participant, Charleville

“The presenters provide a safe and confidential environment for all people, are culturally minded and respectful in acknowledging the people of the land. Thank you for allowing this great experience.”

Deadly Thinking Train-the-Presenter participant

“Very practical and easy strategies were shared. I can see myself using these strategies.”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“I am speechless, so needed for our community. Need more of it. DEADLY.”

Deadly Thinking Train-the-Trainer Participant

“The amount of content, and the quality of it, is great.”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“A fellow worker came to me about his family’s mental health issues and I was able to help.”

Safety Co-ordinator, SA

“Gave me a decent understanding of where to get help if I ever needed it.”

FIFO Worker, SA

“I expected this workshop to challenge me – and it did, but I feel much more confident in dealing with a suicide situation now. Thank you.”

ASIST Participant, Charleville

“I think this should be rolled out everywhere. Keep this workshop going for our mob it is much needed.”

Deadly Thinking Train-the-Trainer Participant

“Putting the facts out there, talking about sensitive issues that people in rural areas usually don’t address.”

Rural Minds Participant, QLD

“The work books were very useful and colourful. The pencils are awesome. The content will be very helpful.”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“Everything was spot on, enjoying it every time.”

FIFO Worker, SA

“Everyone was made aware of mental health issues, the foreman, site managers, all of us, no one is left out.”

Underground Miner, SA

“This is a good program that should be available to everyone. I certainly hope it will reach everyone out there. There are people who are less connected to the community who desperately need help.”

Deadly Thinking Train-the-Trainer participant

“Definitely something that should be shown to as many as possible.”

Rural Minds for Resourceful Communities Participant, Roxby Downs

“I feel privileged to have attended this course. The content was excellent and the whole group was really engaged and open. We had a rich time sharing and learning together. Thank you so much!”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“The inspirations for my paintings come from both my mother and her sister who were adopted as little children. Both had a very hard working life on a cattle property for 34 years and loved their adopted parents dearly. They kept their dreaming stories alive by talking to each other all their life, passing on their stories to their children. I feel I need to keep their stories alive through my art.”

RRMH Artist Margaret Chatfield (M.Henry)

“Helps me understand how to help when people come to me with their issues.”

Rural Minds for Resourceful Communities Participant, Roxby Downs

“Gets you thinking about your own lifestyle and brings issues out into the open. The informal approach felt like we were having a chat, not in school, but still addressed the important issues.”

Underground Gold Miner, SA

“The wide range of knowledge and presenters captured our attention. Anyone can help anyone, even as small as just being there to listen.”

Underground Copper Miner, SA

“Practical tools to use.”

FIFO Worker, SA

“A tough subject made easier to talk about.”

Underground Copper Miner, SA

“Breaking down the stigma and raising awareness, ‘an awakening’ for me, and encouraging us to help ourselves.”

Iron Ore Worker, WA

“Learning different aspects at every visit.”

FIFO Worker, SA

“I appreciated the information, honesty, no bullshit, informal approach and humour.”

Underground Gold Miner, WA

“It allows people to think of ways to be safe and strangers become friends.”

Deadly Thinking Train-the-Presenter participant

“Absolutely loved it! Very relevant in both personal and professional! Thank you so much!”

ASIST Participant, Charleville

“Fantastic program on how to help your family and friends that may have mental health problems.”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“Well presented in an interactive-safe sharing environment. Helps to break down the stigma.”

Rural Minds for Resourceful Communities Participant, Roxby Downs

“When I was a little girl I used to be playing. My friends we used to always sit in a circle, used to sit together and play the marbles. After that we had to chase one another. It was called ‘leewar’. I used to be drawing in the sand, that’s my game. I always did that. Now I can paint those pictures on the canvas.

Jean Walmbeng

“Presenters were great, spoke from the heart with a lot of knowledge.”

Deadly Thinking Train-the-Trainer Participant

“I really enjoyed the workshops and hopefully will develop a ‘new found’ confidence in conducting presentations in the future! Thanks again for the encouragement, sensitivity and support.”

Deadly Thinking Train-the-Presenter participant

“Delivery is casual and easily accessible.”

FIFO Worker, SA

“This training was very beneficial to me personally (confronting at times). I had to visit places and thoughts that I had not in the past. Highly recommended.”

ASIST Participant, Charleville

“The Deadly Thinking program covers a holistic awareness framework that is clear to be shared with all community.”

Deadly Thinking Community Member

“Videos and workbooks were relevant, factual and interesting. Good entry level awareness and education to mental health.”

Rural Minds for Resourceful Communities Participant, Roxby Downs

“Videos and workbooks were relevant, factual and interesting. Good entry level awareness and education to mental health.”

Rural Minds for Resourceful Communities Participant, Roxby Downs

Latest news & stories

Acknowledgement to Country

We would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live, and recognise their connection to land, water and community. We pay respects to elders past, present and emerging.

Our supporters

The organisations that make our work possible.

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