Working in rural and remote Australia comes with unique challenges. Many towns may have only one GP or a small team of health professionals responsible for managing an entire community’s health needs. This can place enormous pressure on practitioners to balance heavy caseloads, long working hours, and limited access to specialist support. For patients, barriers such as distance, cost, and travel time often make it difficult to access care.
Digital mental health resources can help bridge these gaps. They allow health professionals to connect their patients with evidence-based tools and services, regardless of geography. Whether it’s supporting a farmer under stress, a young person struggling with anxiety, or a community impacted by drought, these resources can provide immediate, accessible, and tailored support.
Stress and Wellbeing
Living in a rural or remote area can bring stressors such as isolation, financial uncertainty, weather events, and the demands of farming life. Digital tools designed specifically for these communities can support resilience and wellbeing by offering strategies that reflect their unique experiences.
ifarmwell
A free, online toolkit for Australian farmers (18yrs+) to cope with stress and improve their wellbeing. The website teaches practical coping strategies and tools to deal with difficult circumstances, stressful situations, and thoughts and feelings across five modules.
Weathering Well
An innovative app addressing mental health, wellbeing and alcohol and other drug use in farming communities experiencing adversity through drought and other climate events. Facilitates clinicians to conduct strength-based motivational interviewing to help an individual identify support people, their own strengths and concerns and set goals to improve wellbeing. Available to download for a low cost.
For more general stress and wellbeing resources, check out our referral sheet.
Online Intervention Programs for Mental Health
For individuals experiencing anxiety, depression, PTSD, or other mental health concerns, online programs can provide structured, evidence-based therapy without the need to travel. Many programs are based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and offer both self-guided and clinician-supported options.
MindSpot
Free online mental health screening (with feedback) and CBT-based psychological treatment programs with optional built-in therapist guided support for adults (18 yrs+) with various mental health concerns. Programs include anxiety & depression, OCD, PTSD, sleep, chronic pain, chronic conditions, older adults (60 yrs+), Indigenous wellbeing and a 4-session teletherapy course for difficulties coping with daily life. Printable resources on a range of mental health topics such as perfectionism, coping with uncertainty and managing anger.
THIS WAY UP
Self-guided, CBT and MBCT psychological treatment and wellbeing programs. The programs target adults with generalized, health, or social anxiety, panic, depression, OCD, PTSD, chronic pain, insomnia, and mixed anxiety/depression, as well as perinatal anxiety/depression and teen worry and sadness (ages 12 to 17). Wellbeing course topics include students, mindfulness and stress. Mental health programs free with clinician referral or $59 without referral ($35 for perinatal program). Wellbeing programs free to all users. The platform also offers a clinician portal, various screening tools for mental health conditions, and translated CBT worksheets.
Alcohol and other drugs
Rural and remote communities often face higher risks associated with alcohol and drug use, compounded by limited access to in-person services. Digital resources can provide flexible, confidential support and information for individuals and families.
Family and Friend Support Program
Four free, self-guided online wellbeing programs for adults (18yrs+). The programs are tailored for; people supporting someone who is using alcohol and/or other drugs, people supporting someone who is using crystal methamphetamine (ice), people who are experiencing domestic and family violence or supporting someone who is, or people supporting someone with alcohol or drug use issues while living in a rural and remote location. Alcohol and other drugs, domestic violence, and rural and remote programs can also be accessed through an app.
National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline
A free, confidential phone support service for people with alcohol or other drug concerns. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The phone line provides advice about alcohol and other drugs, including available treatment options, and automatically directs the caller to the Alcohol and Drug Information Service in the state/territory from which they are calling.
Explore our brief guide to alcohol and other drug resources.
Suicide Prevention
Suicide rates are higher in rural communities, where social isolation, stigma, and limited services can make it harder for people to seek help. Digital resources can provide safe, accessible options for those who may not feel comfortable accessing face-to-face support.
The Ripple Effect
https://therippleeffect.com.au/
A free online intervention for men from farming communities aged 30 to 64 years who have been bereaved by suicide, cared for someone who attempted suicide, or had thoughts of suicide or attempted suicide themselves. It provides a safe space to share experiences with others, learn about experiences of suicide and reduce self and perceived stigma, facilitating help-seeking. Note, this is not a crisis service.
Check out our suicide prevention referral sheet for more resources including key crisis services.
First Nations Resources
For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, culturally safe, strengths-based resources are vital. Resources based on the Social and Emotional Wellbeing (SEWB) frameworks emphasise connection to family, culture, community, and Country.
Wellmob
https://wellmob.org.au/
Wellmob is a resource library with online social, emotional and cultural wellbeing resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander People. Wellmob’s resource sheets for workers offer shortcuts to some of the most popular resources on a range of topics including anxiety, cultural identity, suicide prevention and more.
Explore our Social and Emotional Wellbeing Brochure for more culturally safe resources.
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