Making access to support easier for drought affected communities

Country SA PHN Newsletter August 2025

The South Australian Government is expanding the referral pathways for drought-affected community members seeking mental health support, as part of the Drought Mental Health Support package.

To date, community members seeking mental health support traditionally have relied on a referral via their General Practitioner (GP) or through an Emergency Department (ED) presentation.

As part of the Drought Mental Health Support package, more drought-affected farming and regional community members are currently reaching out to ‘other supports’. These may include Primary Industry and Regions SA - Family and Business Mentors and Rural Business Support Financial Counsellors.

SA Health is therefore expanding the ‘referral pathway’, so that ‘other supports’, like those above, can act as a referral source straight to non-government organisation (NGO) providers of mental health support services.

The community member can even self-refer by phoning the NGO service directly or have a support person make a call to the NGO on their behalf.

SA Health has developed a new Drought Mental Health Support Fact Sheet, which provides the contact details of the NGOs providing services in each region of South Australia. 

As noted on the SA Health website, this program, “delivered by SA Health together with the Department of Primary Industries and Regions and Preventive Health SA, aims to provide people, families and communities with a range of resources to support their mental health and wellbeing.”

“Support is flexible and can be offered face-to-face, virtually (telehealth), or through mobile outreach services.”

Published on: August 6, 2025