Clinical support A study led by the Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia and involving The University of Western Australia has revealed many people living in remote and rural areas have unmet mental health needs and often only seek help when they reach crisis point. Although there is little difference in the prevalence of mental illness in the city compared to rural areas, the researchers found poor service access, distance and cost all contributed to higher mental illness risks and greater suicide rates. Published today in the Medical Journal of Australia, the study included data from 2257 patients carried by the RFDS between 1 July 2014 and 30 June 2017 for treatment of mental or behavioural disorders. The patients comprised of 1394 men (62 per cent) and 863 women (38 per cent). Sixty per cent of patients were under 40 years of age and 35 per cent identified as […]