During the year, the SE Section continued to work in
partnership with the Greater Western Area Health Service
(GWAHS) and Maari Ma Health Aboriginal Corporation
to address mental health issues in rural
and remote communities.
Mental health professionals from GWAHS regularly
visited locations in the far west of NSW including
Menindee and Wilcannia and were flown by the RFDS
to Ivanhoe on a monthly basis.
The RFDS Rural Aerial Health Service (RAHS) also flew
nurses, psychologists and psychiatrists to 15 locations
including Walgett and Lightning Ridge fortnightly, and
Bourke monthly. During the year 864 patients were
seen by the mental health workers through RAHS,
approximately 41% of whom were Indigenous.
With a 30% increase in patients seen by RAHS
mental health specialists in 2007, the provision of
mental health services has become increasingly
important to rural communities. The effect of the
worst drought in memory is taking its toll on people
in the bush and the risk of depression and suicide in
rural communities continues to be of great concern.
Looking to the future, the Federal Budget for 2007-8
provides funds for the RFDS SE Section, in partnership
with the Rural Training Unit and GWAHS, to recruit a
psychiatrist to work in the Broken Hill network. This
will be of great assistance in helping to address
mental health issues in the area.