National mental health organisation Beyond Blue will get rural view from Corowa district farmer Derek Schoen

Now he has been given an opportunity to channel those experiences into one of the most powerful groups in the Australian health sector.

Mr Schoen has been appointed to the board of Beyond Blue, the national depression initiative originally chaired by former Victorian premier Jeff Kennett and now overseen by past prime minister Julia Gillard.

The former Corowa deputy mayor and past NSW Farmers president was elevated to the board alongside Aboriginal leader Russell Taylor and Perth accountant Denise McComish.

Ms Gillard said the trio's installation means "Beyond Blue is embracing perspectives from all walks of Australian life".

Mr Schoen said he welcomed the opportunity to bring a rural perspective to the board on mental health.

"It's something that is dear to my heart, especially with the drought you see that mental health is often one of the first casualties of those situations that people find themselves in," Mr Schoen said.

"People get to the stage where they can't make decisions because they think things are insurmountable.

"I've had grown men crying on their shoulders with me with the stress.

"When you have a lot of time by yourself you have a lot of time to think and sometimes there's not good thoughts."

Mr Schoen, who has been appointed to a three-year term, would like to bring a board meeting to the bush.

"I think it would be beneficial, especially with the ongoing drought in rural areas, to have the other directors attend such a meeting," he said.

"It would bring home the enormity of the situation."

Mr Schoen cited loneliness as an urban/rural contrast.

"It's a different loneliness to those in the city, you can be surrounded by people in the city, but in the country you are isolated and lonely," he said.

Mr Schoen said he not met Ms Gillard but had developed a good rapport in phone conversations.

The board also includes past ACT chief minister Kate Carnell, television's Johanna Griggs and former AMA leader Dr Mukesh Haikerwal.