Call to Mind provides specialist mental health care to rural and remote Tamworth patients

The pair came up with Call to Mind, a telepsychiatry service providing quality mental health care to those who need it most.

“We reflected on this real gap between the differences in rural and city areas for psychiatry opinions,” Mr Carmody said.

“There’s a lot of factors that contribute to the increased rate of mental health problems in rural and regional areas - a lot of social factors to do with isolation and access to mental health services.

“For a long time there’s been a real disparity in terms of access, a lot of the time GP’s do an excellent job but they’re unsupported because of geographical reality and access to second opinions.”

In rural and remote towns, even regional areas like Tamworth, access to specialist services can be scarce.

Even when a GP refers an individual to psychiatrists with specialisations in addiction, adolescents, geriatrics or neuropsychiatry – the nearest appointment can be a few hours travel with the only availability months away.

Both Mr Carmody and Mr Chia worked together in Melbourne, and spent time working in regional and rural NSW and QLD.

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They noticed a gap for patients that didn’t meet the threshold for acute intervention, meaning crisis stabilisation, usually in hospital.

The idea is to make the service as flexible and accessible as possible, with patients in rural and remote areas qualifying for bulk-billed assessments.

“There’s a lot of evidence it’s as effective as face-to-face contact for psychiatry, particularly if the alternative is to drive four hours to the nearest clinic,” Mr Carmody said.

The service has been operational for a month and has already received more than 50 referrals, with a wait time of one to two weeks compared to the few months offered by face-to-face services.

“We’re seeing people from northern NSW like Moree, Tamworth, pockets of NSW where there’s a real need for access to psychiatrist opinions without a huge wait time,” Mr Carmody said.

One of the benefits of the service is that it’s discreet, Mr Carmody said, as the stigma surrounding mental health is still very much alive.

“I think there’s an enormous need, the impression I got was that carers and GP’s end up taking on huge responsibilities caring for people with mental illness, without the support of specialist intervention,” he said.

“I was surprised at the severity of mental illness in the country and that being managed without the resources of the city.”

Bulk-billing is available in Tamworth, patients will need to see their GP for a bulk-billing referral.

For more information visit visit calltomind.com.au.

If you or anyone you know is suffering from mental illness, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.