Rural health umbrella group applauds mental health initiative
The Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand (RHĀNZ), an organisation that has a focus on the health and wellbeing of
all rural New Zealand communities, welcomes the announcement from Associate Health Minister Jo Goodhew that rural voices
will be added to the National Depression Initiative website www.depression.org.nz/rural
Several of the member organisations for RHĀNZ have been working to promote the issue of poor rural mental health
outcomes which have been causing concern for many years.
“The Federated Farmers "When Life's a Bitch" campaign is a great example of how people within the community can help
each other to acknowledge problems and gives the tools to respond when things go wrong,” says RHĀNZ chairperson Dr Jo
Scott-Jones.
“Mental Health issues are one of the major items acknowledged by all 21 organisations involved in RHĀNZ as areas for
focus over the next three years and we look forward to continuing working together to help people access the right care,
at the right time, with the right people,” says Dr Scott- Jones.
ends