The prospect of e-health services was just one of many topics covered at the annual Rural and Remote Mental Health Symposium, held at the Commercial Club in Albury yesterday, and touched upon by guest speaker Senator Fiona Nash.

The Nationals senator for NSW and Assistant Health Minister said while physical, face-to-face services were sought as much as possible, online services could be a way for those with limited access to still get the help needed.

“I think people in rural areas realise there isn’t a heart surgeon on every corner, for example, but they do want and expect a reasonable level of access,” she said.

She added that in the case of e-headspace — the online portal of the youth mental health hub, the Border branch of which is due to open this month — the online environment allowed people to remain anonymous if they wished.

Symposium convenor Keith Miller of Flinders University said health professionals were beginning to slowly use e-mental health practice more.

“The feedback is face-to-face is of course preferred, but a phone link-up is far better than no access at all,” he said.

Ms Nash, who hails from north of Young, said rural and remote mental health also faced challenges in attracting health professionals.

The federal government announced last month changes to the workforce classification system in order to attract more doctors to the bush.

Dr Miller agreed it was an ongoing issue.

“We think rural practice is such a fabulous diversity of experience,” he said.

“Often new graduates will go to rural or remote locations and end up staying longer than anticipated because they get involved in the community and choose to stay on.”

Ms Nash said the government was waiting on the results of a review from the National Mental Health Commission, which guide its future mental health investment — and assured that rural and remote areas were a priority.

“There’s a lot more acceptance now (of mental health issues) where before it was swept under the carpet,” she said.

She stressed it “wasn’t just about the farmers”: “When they’re not going well, it flows-on to the whole community, particularly in long-term drought.”