Senator WRIGHT (South Australia) (17:50):  I rise to take note of a response given by the Minister for Health, Ms Ley, to a resolution of the Senate of 3 March 2015 relating to the mental health of those living in rural Australia and their ability to access mental health services. I move:

That the Senate take note of the response.

An Australian Greens bid for improved mental health care in rural areas has been supported in a Senate vote today.

Australian Greens spokesperson for mental health Senator Penny Wright said a recent Monash University study recommended providing incentives for mental health professionals to practise outside major cities.

I move that the Senate:

1.      notes the study by Melbourne's Monash University which shows less people in rural, remote  and disadvantaged areas accessing mental health services;

2.      acknowledges that rates of severe mental illness are higher in the most disadvantaged areas;

3.      recognises that people in wealthier areas access psychologists and psychiatrists up to three times as much as those in the most disadvantaged areas; and

The Abbott Government's performance on rural mental health has been overwhelmingly condemned in a new survey of rural mental health workers, consumers and community activists.

The survey, conducted by Australian Greens spokesperson for mental health Senator Penny Wright, revealed widespread dissatisfaction with mental health services in rural and regional areas.

Only five per cent of respondents thought local services were enough to meet local needs and 97 per cent wanted government funding for rural and regional mental health increased.

I give notice that, on the next day of sitting, I will move that:

The Senate:

1. recognises September 1-7 as National Body Image and Eating Disorders Awareness Week; 

2. notes that in 2012 there were more than 913,000 people in Australia living with a clinical eating disorder, and more than 1,800 people die each year because of these deadly mental illnesses;

The Senate has called on the Government to fund targeted suicide prevention measures in rural and regional areas, backing a motion by Australian Greens spokesperson on mental health Senator Penny Wright.

However, the National Party voted against the motion - despite making an identical election promise last year.

Senator Wright said enthusiasm about the cross-party support for action on rural suicide, including a national awareness campaign, was tempered by the Nationals' surprising policy reversal.

I move that the Senate

1.      notes that a disproportionately high number of completed suicides and suicide attempts involve men in rural areas; and

2.      calls on the government to implement the key recommendations of The Hidden Toll: Suicide in Australia report of the Senate Community Affairs References Committee during the term of the 44^th Parliament of Australia, including:

a)      funding a national suicide prevention and awareness campaign, to run for at least five years; and