News Corp Australia has announced a $1 million donation to Rural & Remote Mental Health (RRMH) to deliver mental health literacy and suicide prevention training for bushfire-impacted communities over two years, commencing early 2022.
The Mental Health and Wellbeing Grant follows an ongoing commitment from the company to participate in the long-term revival of communities impacted by the Black Summer bushfires.
Penny Fowler, News Corp Australia’s community ambassador, said the grant will aim to address one of the biggest challenges facing Australia, in particular, rural and regional communities.
“Droughts, floods, bushfires and a global pandemic have dealt relentless devastation and hardship, unleashing a storm of community challenges ranging from basic human needs for shelter, food and survival through to the silent killers lurking in the shadows.
“News Corp Australia has extensively supported the immediate recovery but communities were telling us of a greater challenge. While many Australians have moved on from the ‘forgotten crisis’, those in rural and remote communities are constantly reminded of the trauma and devastation of those horrific months, causing significant impacts on mental health.
“This latest funding will make a tangible difference to the lives and livelihoods of those in bushfire-impacted communities as well as transforming Rural & Remote Mental Health’s capacity to deliver their vital services,” Fowler said.
With the $1 million grant, News Corp Australia has now donated $4.2 million to assist the ongoing recovery of bushfire areas.
Rural & Remote Mental Health’s programs have been shown to reduce stigma and encourage conversations about mental health, providing a vital step to bridging the mental health gap that exists between major cities and the regions.
The project will begin in early 2022 by identifying bushfire affected communities most at-risk for increased rates of trauma, mental ill-health and suicide, and working with mental health professionals, community leaders, organisations and locals to identify areas of need and design solutions.
A pilot program will be deployed in Gippsland, Victoria, in April 2022 with informal social gatherings and Community Workshops that provide more comprehensive mental health information. Rural & Remote Mental Health will also launch an Introduction to Mental Health online course and an online community in 2022 to support mental health champions in bushfire-impacted communities Australia-wide.
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Top Image: Leanne Jennings is a presenter at Rural Minds based in Bairnsdale, Victoria. Rural Minds is one of three workshops Rural & Mental Health run.