Mercure, Ballarat 14th – 16th November 2011
Conference Website
The 3rd Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium will examine the impacts & outcomes of social, financial and environments issues on Mental Health Clients and their Service Providers in Rural & Remote communities in Australia.
“In 1991 a national study of 2000 GP’s concluded the rates of depression in Urban and Regional areas were similar. The same study conducted in 2001 saw a marked increase in depression in rural and regional populations. A key factor for the increase was the rural economy and rapid rate of change in regional Australia. The rapid changes continue in 2010, with loss of services and employment opportunities. As an example the introduction of water management schemes and FIFO work forces have ensured Rural and Remote communities are continually under pressure to adapt”.
About 35 per cent of Australians named mental health as one of their country’s two or three greatest challenges, in contrast to the international average of just 10 per cent, with the second-most worried country on that issue being China on 15 per cent.
Social, financial and environmental factors can all severely impact on the mental health of individuals and upon community functioning, cohesion, and resource availability.
