On Women’s Health Week, all women are urged to nurture their own well-being, and strategies to support those living in rural settings were discussed at an event in Tallangatta on Tuesday.

Tallangatta Health Service nurse practitioner Sue Reid said a lack of transport was a barrier to rural women accessing the right support.

“Availability and cost are also big barriers as to why women and people in the country in general don’t access help,” she said.

“Tallangatta Health Service has so many services we can offer locally, but if people are needing services outside of town it can create stress trying to put that into place.

“With a collaborative approach with the GP and people like Nadia we can put people on the right pathway to improve their health.”

Ms Reid, who has been working in the area for 20 years, said she was passionate about women’s health.

“I always say to people, ‘If you’re saying more than twice something is wrong, you need to do something about it’,” she said.

“The most important thing is about looking after yourself, having regular check-ups, and if you have a diagnosis of a chronic disease visit more regularly.”

Hosted by Towong Council and Tallangatta Health Service, the breakfast at the Community Centre talked through health hints and took participants through a Tai Chi session.

Guest speaker, Albury counsellor Nadia Mellor, said there were four principles undermining good health; “sunlight, diet, exercise, and sleep”.

“If one goes out of whack, they all go out of whack,” she said.

“Albury-Wodonga has had a very dull, grey winter – I’ve seen in my practise so many people come in in a depressed state because they haven’t had the serotonin levels from the sun.

“They’re not clinically depressed, they’re in a depressed state – because they don’t have the sunlight, they start feeling gluggy, so they don’t exercise, and don’t get that adrenaline and the whole thing tips over.”

Ms Mellor said anxiety was a big part of her work.

“I’m also one of only two sex therapists between Canberra and Melbourne, so I see a lot of women’s health issues as well,” she said.

“It’s around what’s right for a woman and a man in terms of their relationship, hormones for women and the effect of hormones on their own life as a sexual being.”

Women’s Health Week runs until Friday.

To see other events in the region visit womenshealthweek.com.au.