Sartore Gina-Maree, Kelly Brian, Stain Helen J
Centre for Rural and Remote Mental Health, University of Newcastle, Orange, New South Wales.
Aust Fam Physician. 2007 Dec;36(12):990-3.
Drought has been a major stressor affecting rural New South Wales communities since late 2001. While much is known about the effects on mental health of acute natural disasters, there is less research available on the effect to communities of chronic natural disasters. Of great concern for Australian rural communities is that independent of drought, the rate of suicide for some groups is higher in rural than urban communities, while access to mental health services is less.
This article explores how general practitioners can identify and respond to the drought related mental health needs of farming residents.
Limited availability of mental health services to rural communities increases reliance on GPs for mental health care. Residents of farming communities report experiencing substantial distress in relation to the drought. The local GP is a key source of consultation, advice and treatment. Early intervention is a critical task in improving the mental health of rural communities. Early intervention provided by GPs will be enhanced through: working closely with other community agencies to promote early effective intervention for mental health problems, improve access to advice and initial consultation, and facilitate urgent consultation when needed; increasing access to services for farmers and responding promptly to needs; and utilising the support of rural organisational workers.
自2001年末以来，干旱一直是影响新南威尔士州农村社区的主要压力源。虽然人们对急性自然灾害对心理健康的影响了解甚多，但关于慢性自然灾害对社区影响的研究较少。澳大利亚农村社区极为担忧的是，抛开干旱因素，农村一些群体的自杀率高于城市社区，而获得心理健康服务的机会却更少。
本文探讨全科医生如何识别并满足务农居民与干旱相关的心理健康需求。
农村社区心理健康服务的有限可得性增加了居民对全科医生提供心理健康护理的依赖。务农社区的居民报告称因干旱而遭受巨大痛苦。当地的全科医生是咨询、建议和治疗的关键来源。早期干预是改善农村社区心理健康的一项关键任务。通过以下方式将增强全科医生提供的早期干预：与其他社区机构密切合作，以促进对心理健康问题的早期有效干预，改善获取建议和初步咨询的机会，并在需要时提供紧急咨询；增加农民获得服务的机会并及时响应需求；以及利用农村组织工作人员的支持。
