Project Summary

The drought in south-eastern Australia commenced in 2002 and continued to deepen during 2008 and 2009. This prolonged and intense event is believed to be linked to climate change related warming and drying across much of the continent. The impact on rural communities has been substantial with the most socioeconomically and geographically vulnerable in the community the worst affected. Reduced income, increased debt, degradation to the land and loss of hope has led to stress related “mental health problems for some, and to the tragedy of despair and suicide for a few”. (Garnaut Report, 2008).

In 2007 the NSW Government funded the Drought Mental Health Assistance Program (DMHAP) to help build individual, service provider and community capacity to cope with drought related stress and mental health problems. Following on the success of DMHAP 2007, the NSW Government has continued funding of the program into 2011.

RAMHP Program Staff

CRRMH Staff	Rural Mental Health Workers	Consultant Psychiatrist
Jenn Caine	Kate Arndell	Dr Susan Blinkhorn
Sue Knight	Dianne Gill	Dr. John Hoskin
Craig Hart	Margaret Greig	A/Prof. Ganapathi Murugesan
Bruce Middleton	Sarah Green	A/Prof Allan Rosen
Georgia Pollard	Georgina Gough
Jo Porter	Jennie Keioskie
	Nicola Barrie
	Merilyn Limbrick
	Darcy Budden
	Andrew Little

Time Frame

January 2008 - June 2014

Publications

Journal Articles

Carnie T, Berry H, Blinkhorn S, Hart C. In their own words: Young people’s mental health in drought-affected rural and remote NSW. The Australian Journal of Rural Health. 2011;19:244-8.
Hart C, Berry H, Tonna A. Improving the mental health of rural New South Wales communities facing drought and other adversities. The Australian Journal of Rural Health. 2011;19:231-8.
Polain J, Berry H, Hoskin J. Rapid change, climate adversity and the next ‘big dry’: Older farmers’ mental health. The Australian Journal of Rural Health. 2011;19:239-43.
Rigby C, Rosen A, Berry H, Hart C. If the land’s sick, we’re sick: The impact of prolonged drought on the social and emotional well-being of Aboriginal communities in rural New South Wales. The Australian Journal of Rural Health. 2011;19:249-54.

Conference Presentations

ORAL

Caine J. Helping to prepare the Health workforce for the mental health impact of rural adversity. 14th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference; 22 - 24 June; Coffs Harbour 2011.
Gill D, Kearins D. Rural Service Networks : developing community resilience and capacity in the face of rural adversity. 2nd Australian Rural Mental Health Symposium; Sydney 2011.
Hart C. NSW Health Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP). Mental Health Association of NSW Conference; Sydney2011.
Hart C. A Mental Health Response to Rural Adversity - An Overview of the NSW Health Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP). 14th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference; 22 - 24 June; Coffs Harbour 2011.
Limbrick M. Bringing ‘Burnt’ to the Bush – Partnering with the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) to deliver mental health promotion in rural NSW. 14th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference; 22 - 24 June; Coffs Harbour 2011.
Limbrick M. Bringing ‘Burnt’ to the Bush – Partnering with the Sydney Theatre Company (STC) to deliver mental health promotion in rural NSW. 3rd Rural Mental Health Symposium; November; Ballarat 2011.
Little A. Gone fishing. 14th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference; 22 - 24 June; Coffs Harbour 2011.
Turner L. The Broken Hill Men's Group Movie. TheMHS Conference 2011; September 2011.
Turner L, Gill D, Greig M. Creatively engaging and connecting with diverse communities. 14th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference; 22 - 24 June; Coffs Harbour 2011.
Gill D, Kearins D, Turner L. Rural Service Networks - developing community resilience and capacity in the face of rural adversity. 2nd Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium; 29 - 30 September; Sydney, New South Wales 2010.
Hart C. The Drought Mental Health Assistance Program in rural NSW. Creating Futures Conference; 20 - 23 September; Cairns, Queensland 2010.
Rosen A. "If the land is sick, we are sick": Aboriginal communities' responses to drought, their adaption strategies and lessons for all Australians. Creating Futures Conference; 20 - 23 September; Cairns, Queensland 2010.
Hart, C. (2009) A mental health response to drought – an overview of the NSW Health Drought Mental Health Assistance Program. National Rural Health Conference, Cairns.
Tonna, A. (2009) Drought Drying and Rural Mental Health – the role of the NSW Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health National Rural Health Conference, Cairns.
Blinkhorn, S. (2009) Drought and Beyond – mental health needs of youth in drought affected.2nd Adolescent and Young People’s Health Research Forum, Westmead Hospital.

Hart, C., Bishop, B. Mental health in the bush. Climate for Change: Profitable farming for the Cowra district forum, Cowra, NSW, 12 & 19 August 2008.
Hart. C. Tackling Tough times - drought and mental health issues in the bush. Australian Society of Rehabilitation Counsellors - National Conference 2008, Canberra, ACT, 10-12 September 2008.
Hart, C. NSW Health Drought Mental Health Assistance Package (DMHAP) 2008-09 - an overview. 13th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference, Hunter Valley, NSW, 26-28 November 2008.
Hart, C. (2008) NSW Health Drought Mental Health Assistance Package (DMHAP) 2008-09 – an overview. 13th NSW Rural Mental Health Conference, Hunter Valley, NSW.

Menu

Rural Adversity Mental Health Program

(Previously the Drought Mental Health Assistance Program)