The project, Mental Health Matters: First Aid for Our Community, will deliver Mental Health First Aid training in Corowa towards the end of this year, empowering locals to recognise and respond to mental health challenges.
With mental health concerns rising across rural Australia, the program comes at a crucial time.
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District has a suicide rate twice the NSW average, and recent reports show that nearly one in three farmers has experienced a decline in their mental health.
The initiative was funded by the Foundation for Rural Regional Renewal and recognises the urgency of equipping everyday people with the tools to support those around them, especially in close-knit communities where everyone knows someone who may be struggling.
Corowa District Landcare’s senior project officer, Dr Meredith Mitchell emphasised that mental health was everyone’s business.
“You don’t have to be a professional to make a difference,” Dr Mitchell said.
This training will give everyday people the confidence and skills to step in early, offer support, and guide someone to professional help when it matters most.”
Delivered in-person, by a certified trainer, the course runs over two six-hour sessions and is open to the wider community, including Landcare groups, Men’s and SHE Sheds, churches, op shop staff and community volunteers.
The program also welcomes those who’ve completed Mental Health First Aid training in the past and wish to refresh their knowledge.
Key goals include building mental health literacy, providing practical skills to support someone in distress, reducing stigma, strengthening local support networks, and resilience.
As rural mental health training options remain limited, this project ensures that help becomes more accessible.
“Let’s build a community that listens, supports, and responds, because mental health matters,” Dr Mitchell said.
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