WIMMERA residents needing mental health support now have access to a team created to connect them with such services.
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The Rural Outreach Program, which began in the West Wimmera shire in December, has expanded to take in the Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh and Horsham municipalities.
Two new outreach workers, Alistair Baker and Murray MacInnes, this week joined Mal Coutts as outreach workers.
Outreach program co-ordinator Ngareta Melgrin said the program's expansion was possible following a partnership between the four shires and the region's hospitals and bush nursing centres, among others.
"The West Wimmera Health Service supported our application for funding and donated a vehicle for us to use, while the four councils provided us with funding," she said.
"We are now looking to engage with key community organisations and individuals to find out what services are needed where. It's free, people don't need to see a GP before contacting us and we can come and see people in their homes."
Ms Melgrin said people wanting to access the Rural Outreach Program could phone her on 0419 412 290.
She said the program had become a pilot for other regions interested in setting up their own outreach services.
"The Loddon-Mallee and Gippsland Department of Health regions are looking to us as a model, so we've developed a basic framework for others to follow," she said.
Mr Coutts said he had received up to a dozen phone calls a week in the five months he had worked in the role.
"They're coming from everybody - farmers, wives, mothers - a lot of them just to talk, but we've also had a fair few referrals to social workers and psychologists, food services and doctors to get some diagnoses," he said.
The outreach program is funded until April 2020.
The group is working with Swinburne University to secure sustainable funding to keep it going long-term.
- If you, or someone you know, needs help phone Lifeline on 13 11 14, MensLine Australia on 1300 789 978 or the Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.
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