1. Help at the End of the Line?
What does analysis of rural and remote calls to SANE Helpline
tell us about mental health needs in the country?
Paul Morgan BA (Hons), MA, DipInf, PhD
SANE Australia – the national mental health charity

2. SANE Australia
Helping all Australians affected by mental illness lead a better life.

3. SANE Helpline 1800 18 SANE
National. Free. Confidential. Professional. Multichannel.

4. SANE Helpline Rural + remote calls

5. SANE Helpline Rural + remote calls
10,000+ Helpline calls a year

6. SANE Helpline Rural + remote calls
10,000+ Helpline calls a year
39% Rural and remote callers

7. SANE Helpline Rural + remote calls
10,000+ Helpline calls a year
39% Rural and remote callers
67% Female

8. SANE Helpline Rural + remote calls
10,000+ Helpline calls a year
39% Rural and remote callers
67% Female
50% Consumer

9. SANE Helpline Rural + remote calls
10,000+ Helpline calls a year
39% Rural and remote callers
67% Female
50% Consumer
41% Carer

10. SANE Helpline Rural + remote calls
10,000+ Helpline calls a year
39% Rural and remote callers
67% Female
50% Consumer
40% Carer
6% Suicide-related

11. SANE Helpline Rural + remote calls
Many more similarities than differences to metropolitan calls

12. More calls from health professionals
10% Calls from rural and remote health professionals
compared to 7% in Australia as a whole

13. Fewer people in treatment
36% Calls about people in treatment
compared to 40% in Australia as a whole

14. Fewer online contacts
4% Online contacts with the SANE Helpline
compared to 17% in Australia as a whole.

15. Difficult to access services
Long waiting lists to see mental health professionals
Long distances to travel for appointments

16. Undiagnosed callers
19% One in five callers had not seen a GP or other health
professional for assessment and diagnosis

17. Reluctance to seek help
Concerns about stigma and privacy.

18. Less information available
Some GPs less well-enabled to handle mental health issues.
Callers express need for help but less informed about symptoms + support.

19. Support is the #1 need
55% Over half of callers were not calling about clinical issues but
about support in the community: accommodation, employment,
social isolation, family support and other human concerns

20. Conclusions
Many of the challenges are familiar (workforce, access, privacy)

21. Conclusions
Many of the challenges are familiar (workforce, access, privacy)
Youth services for early intervention

22. Conclusions
Many of the challenges are familiar (workforce, access, privacy)
Youth services for early intervention
Online services for accessible, confidential treatment

23. Conclusions
Many of the challenges are familiar (workforce, access, privacy)
Youth services for early intervention
Online services for accessible, confidential treatment
Better information + promotion of services via health professionals

24. Conclusions
Many of the challenges are familiar (workforce, access, privacy)
Youth services for early intervention
Online services for accessible, confidential treatment
Better information + promotion of services via health professionals
Better promotion of first-stop Helpline services

25. Conclusions
Many of the challenges are familiar (workforce, access, privacy)
Youth services for early intervention
Online services for accessible, confidential treatment
Better information + promotion of services via health professionals
Better promotion of first-stop Helpline services
Better-funded, ‘smarter’ mental health and support services

26. www.sane.org