Rural Aid is appointing 10 new counsellors across Australia this year, one of them to be based here in the Bega Valley.
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Rural Aid counsellors offer free, confidential support to farmers and their families.
The charity said it was making its biggest investment into improving regional mental health to date, committing $3.75million over the next three years "to help address the yawning gaps in regional mental healthcare".
Nine of Rural Aid's new counsellors already in place, actively serving their regional community.
Among them is Liz Bellette-Stubbs of Pambula.
"What drew me to Rural Aid was how accessible their wellbeing program is," Ms Bellette-Stubbs said.
"Not only are the counsellors available without a huge waiting list, but we're free too. Farmers are often so stretched that they can't afford to buy feed for their animals, let alone spend money on themselves."
Ms Bellette-Stubbs' resolve to address gaps in regional health was bolstered after living through the Black Summer bushfires.
"I knew people would be in urgent need of care after the fires," she said.
Ms Bellette-Stubbs said she was passionate about supporting the family unit in a counselling setting.
"I encourage men to utilise an avenue of support to give voice to their fears, stressors and concerns. And I make sure that women are supported and that their issues are validated by a caring counsellor."
She draws on her teaching background to make sure the youngest members of the family are heard too.
Rural Aid CEO John Warlters said Rural Aid's commitment to placing counsellors in rural Australia "will save lives".
"We know people who live regionally have poorer access to health professionals and are more likely to struggle with their mental health due to lack of appropriate and timely support," Mr Warlters said,
"Farmers and rural teenagers have more than double the rate of suicide compared to urban populations. Rural Aid is desperately trying to change that."
Mr Warlters said Rural Aid's counsellors were mental wellbeing specialists who counsel, teach and refer clients to higher levels of care.
"We know that investing in early intervention achieves results. It leads to a reduction in the number of people who require acute treatment. This is achieved through the provision of mental wellbeing education, tools and pathways for assistance at the preventative end. Rural Aid counsellors are qualified to assist farmers across the continuum of mental health, from prevention and early intervention, right through to treatment," Mr Warlters said.
"If we can get to people early, have them recognise symptoms and get some simple but effective strategies, we help them before things escalate to the point they need hospitalisation. This will reduce pressure on the health system while prevention strategies will help rural people to live their best lives they can.
"Our counselling program has been highly successful; making a real difference to the farmers that Rural Aid supports. Our counsellors work with their community to create and implement vital mental health programs and strategies. Rural Aid counsellors build trusted relationships with their local communities. Our counsellors also attend field days, events and natural disaster sites."
Rural Aid's new counsellors are based in Bega Valley and Inverell (NSW), Mildura, Bairnsdale and Geelong (Victora), Berri and Port Augusta (South Australia), and Northam and Wagin (Western Australia).
The new counsellors add to Rural Aid's existing team of counsellors based in Wodonga, Ipswich, Toowoomba, Cessnock and West Wyalong.
