Seven projects that support and encourage good mental health practices in rural, regional and remote communities have received grants from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal via the In a Good Place program.

The projects are Blue Mountains Women’s Health & Resource Centre Inc., Clarke Creek State School P&C Association, Moranbah Primary P&C Association, Operation Flinders Foundation Inc, Mallacoota Community HealthInfrastructure and Resilience Fund Inc (CHIRF), Robinvale Network House Inc, and Westonia Community Resource Centre Inc.

They will share $99,275, through the support from CCI Giving, the charitable foundation of Catholic Church Insurance (CCI).

“The applications we received confirms that there is significant need when it comes supporting good mental health in rural, regional and remote communities,” said FRRR CEO, Natalie Egleton.

According to Egleton, mental ill-health doesn’t discriminate based on whether one lives in a rural or metropolitan area. Geographic location, lack of resources or access to mental health services, and cultural barriers or stigma are reasons why rural areas struggle when it comes to finding the help they need.

FRRR progams have seen increased requests for support around mental health across the country given the compounding impacts of the long-running drought, floods or cyclones, as well as economic factors, which lead to stress and social isolation.

“These factors also mean that usual community fundraising options to support local initiatives are simply not available, making programs like In a Good Place increasingly important,” said Egleton.

The projects funded support community-based, non-clinical, and accessible mental health information and support. This includes indirect education via community events, and proactive resilience programs, in schools and the wider community.

Among the recipients is a project involving a series of community activities to bring community members together to reduce social isolation, build stronger interpersonal connections, and create awareness of good mental health practices, following a high-profile local tragedy. The aim is to help people recognise that it is ‘okay not to be okay’ and to provide information about where to access help when required.

Roberto Scenna, CEO of CCI and Director of CCI Giving, said that it was inspiring to see communities responding to mental health challenges in ways that suit them best.

“The funded projects might be for information sharing, skills and capacity building but it’s these non-clinical approaches to mental health care that can assist people at their most vulnerable,” said Scenna.