Living in a small community like Deloraine brings with it many of the best things in life. But living in a place like ours can also influence how people seek help for their mental health. It may be the belief that, because we live rurally, there is no help available. Or it may be the feeling that privacy is harder to protect in small communities. We know that the first step is often the hardest step when we are struggling with our mental health, and these concerns can make that step feel even harder.
The mental health system is certainly not what I might dream up in an ideal world, but despite the challenges, help is available, even for those of us living in a small rural town.
Letter to the Editor
Why is your GP often the best first step if you’re struggling? I’m sure you’ve heard this before, and you may have found yourself wondering what a GP could even do. Or perhaps you’ve thought there is no need to come in unless there is “something really wrong.” You don’t need to know exactly what is wrong to book an appointment to talk to your GP, and seeking help doesn’t always lead to a diagnosis or medication.
The first thing we will do is listen. Mental health challenges come in many shapes and forms, and everyone experiences and expresses these struggles differently. One of our key roles as your GP is to help explore what is happening and make sense of how the brain, thoughts, emotions, and physical symptoms are all connected. Often, physical symptoms come along for the ride, things like fatigue, pain, or a racing heart. These can sometimes feel even more distressing than the emotional symptoms themselves. Another important role for your GP is to explore these with you, rule out physical conditions that can masquerade as mental health struggles, and help make sense of how closely physical and psychological symptoms are linked.
Sometimes, understanding what is happening in our brain, and being equipped with that knowledge, can be enough to help us move through life’s challenges without needing further treatment. I’ve often wondered why the concepts we teach in therapy aren’t a core part of everyone’s education. The ideas and strategies for managing our thoughts and emotions are not just relevant when things are going badly, they are skills that can help us navigate everyday life, even when things are going well.
Sometimes, more support is needed. For some people, at certain points in their mental health journey, therapy or medication can be life-saving. Thankfully, despite living in a small rural town, there is more help available than many people realise. It may not always look the same as care in a big city, but access to video telehealth has opened doors that simply didn’t exist decades ago. There are also excellent community organisations providing support in many forms. Headspace, Wellways, Relationships Australia, and others do invaluable work in our community.
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Concerns about privacy are common and understandable in small towns, but confidentiality is taken seriously in general practice. Your GP understands the unique nature of rural communities and is committed to maintaining trust and professional boundaries.
If you’re struggling with your mental health, help is available. You don’t need to be in crisis, and you don’t need to have the answers. Sometimes, the most important step is simply having a conversation.
