Huge cuts to rural and regional services will have drastic mental health consequences if adopted by the Abbott Government, Australian Greens Senator for South Australia Penny Wright has warned.

Senator Wright urged the Abbott Government to immediately reject proposals to abolish the Rural Financial Counselling Service and Farm Finance Concessional Loans Scheme.

"The Abbott Government must not sell out rural and regional South Australia," Senator Wright said.

"These programs have supported thousands of country families through tough times."

The Australian Greens will work with other parties in the new parliament to tackle suicide rates, especially in rural areas, says Australian Greens spokesperson for mental health Senator Penny Wright.

Speaking on World Suicide Prevention Day, Senator Wright said research continued to show suicide rates were higher in rural and regional areas.

"Every suicide has a profound impact on families and whole communities. We all need to work urgently on reversing this devastating trend," Senator Wright said.

The Australian Greens' multi-million dollar commitment boosting mental health research, primary care and suicide prevention will ensure all Australians can access quality care, say Senator Penny Wright and ACT Senate candidate Simon Sheikh.

Today's announcement of a further $547.4 million for mental health services brings the total of Australian Greens' mental health policy commitments to $1.1 billion, following the rural mental health package announced last week.

The Australian Greens' plan to  invest more than half a billion dollars in mental health services across rural and regional Australia will save lives and build stronger communities, say Senators Penny Wright and Peter Whish-Wilson.

Launching the party's rural mental health policy in Launceston today, Australian Greens' mental health spokesperson Senator Wright said the policy was based on recommendations sought directly from rural communities.

"Years of under-investment in rural mental health continues to cost lives all across country Australia," Senator Wright said.

One in five Australians experience mental ill-health in any year. The consequences of mental ill-health in rural and regional areas are far greater than in urban areas given that access to mental health services is substantially lower.

Over 30% of Australians live in rural areas but they have limited access to essential health services compared to their urban counterparts. The Greens believe that this inequity must be addressed.

The Greens spokesperson for Mental Health, Senator Penny Wright, is pleased to launch the Report "Voices and experiences: Improving mental health services in country Australia:"

The report is the result of extensive consultation with frontline rural mental health workers, service providers, consumers and their families. Senator Wright toured regional Australia during 2012 and 2013, visiting 24 towns across six states.

The 2013 Labor Budget will do little to ease the stress on Australians. Senator Penny Wright talks about what was in the budget and what more could be done in each of her portfolio areas.

Education

What's in the budget:

• $9.8 billion in new school funding
• $3 billion in next the next four years, $6 billion to come in the following two years

What I think: