Drought Mental Health and Community Wellbeing Support

Disasters have a direct impact on mental health and a communities’ adaptive capacity and resilience. Rural and regional communities often rely on agriculture, water-intensive industries and nature-based tourism and therefore carry high exposure to drought. Livestock, cropping and much regional employment may depend directly on water.

Drought has been shown to damage communities environmentally, socially, economically and through health- directly and indirectly. Rural and regional households face a specific set of stressors, including isolation, long working hours, uncertainty about the future and shifting markets. Financial hardship has a consistent relationship with poor mental health and wellbeing among farmers.

South Australia’s food and agribusiness sector is central to the state economy. In 2024-25 the sector accounted for 46 per cent of South Australia’s merchandise exports, down from 49 per cent in 2023-24. The sector contracted in 2024-25 after a prolonged warm and dry period that began in early 2023.

Future droughts may be more frequent, more severe and longer. South Australian communities face drought alongside bushfire, extreme heat, flooding and other climate stressors. Adaptive capacity is critical to sustaining this industry, and mental health is central to adaptive capacity. Drought places lasting stress on the households it affects directly. Its impacts are unpredictable and isolating, and the emotional and financial toll continues after seasonal conditions improve.

In response to severe and extended drought conditions across all regions of South Australia. the State Government announced the first tranche of the Drought Support Package in November 2024. This package grew over the next 12 months to address changing support needs of rural communities. A total of 22 assistance measures were offered under the package including financial relief, emergency water supplies, community support, on-farm assistance, resilience building and mental health and wellbeing services.

South Australia embedded a dedicated mental health and community wellbeing directly within its drought response package, which treats psychological resilience as a climate adaptation necessity. This represents a deliberate policy choice to address the human dimensions of drought alongside the economic and resilience ones, and distinguishes SA’s approach from other drought responses that focus exclusively on financial relief or on-farm productivity support.

The program was allocated $2.5 million and delivered through the Department of Health and Wellbeing and Preventive Health SA. The program funded the following components:

• Expanded NGO mental health services. More than $1.2 million goes to non-government mental health providers already working in regional South Australia: Centacare (with KWY), Uniting SA, Mind Australia and Skylight Mental Health. These providers place counsellors and community mental health practitioners in drought-affected communities for individual, family and group sessions.
• Culturally safe support. Relationships Australia provides mental health support for culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities in drought-affected areas. The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia allocates grants to Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations and Aboriginal communities in drought-affected regions.
• Men’s Tables. At least eight groups, at least one in every drought-affected region, cost $250,000. A Men’s Table is a men’s mental health, suicide prevention and community initiative where local men meet over dinner to talk about the issues affecting them.
• Farmer-designed tools. $80,000 to tailor and promote tools such as Steph Schmidt’s Farm Life Handbook and ifarmwell, an online platform developed by farmers for farmers that teaches skills for coping with stress.
• Wider wellbeing and resilience initiatives. More than $600,000 funds Emotional Resilience and Suicide Awareness training, support, information and resources for the broader community, including Aboriginal and CALD communities.
• Awareness campaigns. A targeted social media campaign began in May 2025, followed by a regional mental health awareness campaign from November 2025.

The program operated across four interconnected levels:

• Individual. One-on-one support was available from NGO counsellors and community mental health practitioners, face to face, by telehealth and through mobile outreach. Referral pathways were expanded to non-traditional referrers, to facilitate access.
• Family. The program offered family sessions and reinforces connections between farming households and local services. It emphasised early intervention before more complex needs arise.
• Community. Group sessions, Men’s Tables and community wellbeing activities maintain social connection in drought-affected towns.

The model was explicitly multi-channel: it combined online tools for reach into isolated properties, local in-person services for depth of support, mentoring for practical resilience, community activities for social cohesion, and grants for community-led initiatives.

Critically, the mental health stream was not designed as a standalone welfare measure but as an integrated component of a broader drought adaptation package, sitting alongside on-farm infrastructure grants, water security investment, and complimentary drought support measures.

Companion measures in the wider Drought Support Package delivered by other agencies complement the mental health program by providing opportunities for community connection and other non-clinical support services. These measures included:

PIRSA Connecting Communities Events grants helped local groups host community gatherings.

The Active Club Program helped sporting clubs in drought-affected areas to keep communities physically and socially active.

A separate $1 million drought wellbeing program administered by PIRSA provided a suite of non-clinical farmer and community focused activities and services delivered by trusted partner organisations including ifarmwell, Fat Farmers and Breakthrough Mental Health Research Foundation.

The companion measures in conjunction with the mental health program recognised that the social infrastructure of rural communities, clubs, networks, events, informal peer support, is itself a climate adaptation asset that requires active maintenance during prolonged stress. Funding for regional events also provides economic stimulus while also sustaining the community gathering points that prevent social disintegration during extended drought periods.

South Australia has a robust set of mental health programs and the drought program builds on disaster mental health support delivered for previous major events, including the 2019-20 bushfires, covid-19 and River Murray Flood 2023. In 2025 this approach was expanded to drought.

The program was informed by the National Disaster Mental health and Wellbeing Framework. It has been developed in consultation with farmers and industry experts to address gaps in mental health support.

In May of 2025 SA Health published its drought mental health webpage, and launched a targeted social media campaign. Self-referral into NGO mental health services openined in July 2025.

The Drought Mental Health Support program finished formally on 30 June 2026, although mental health support remains available for the community.

The Drought Mental Health Support website has been transitioned to become the Mental Health support during and after a disaster web page.

The Mental Health Strategy and Planning Branch of the Department for Health and Wellbeing oversees and coordinates the program. The Department for Health and Wellbeing is the central department of the SA Health portfolio and sets health policy for the state government. The program is delivered together with two other state bodies: Source ↗

• The Department of Primary Industries and Regions (PIRSA) is the state department responsible for primary industries and regional development. It administers the wider Drought Support Package. Source ↗
• Preventive Health SA is a state prevention agency, established in 2024 and given statutory form as the Office for Preventive Health SA under the Preventive Health SA Act 2024. Its priorities include mental health, wellbeing and suicide prevention. Source ↗

The Department for Health and Wellbeing designed the package of supports with Preventive Health SA and the state’s Mental Health Commissioner.

The Mental Health Strategy and Planning Branch coordinates with other state agencies and partners. These include emergency services and recovery agencies, the Australian Red Cross, Primary Health Networks (Commonwealth-funded regional bodies that commission primary care) and Local Health Networks (state-run regional health services). The aim is to provide mental health support in the right place, in the right way, to the right people, at the right time. Country SA PHN, (the Primary Health Network for regional South Australia), distributed program information and campaign resources to general practices.

The program coordinates a range of activities to give people experiencing drought a comprehensive mental health response. It also supports grassroots organisations and local communities to build their resilience. The Connecting Communities Events grants, administered by PIRSA, fund local groups to host gatherings that support mental health and social connection.

SA Health’s disaster mental health pages collate resources for:

• community members
• service providers
• response and recovery
• specific disaster support, including River Murray flood and algal bloom mental health support.

NGO providers

The program worked through non-government organisations already active in the state, whose staff come from or have first-hand experience of the regional communities they serve. Providers are Centacare, Uniting SA, Mind Australia and Skylight Mental Health, alongside Relationships Australia, South Australia and the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia.

Governance context

The program operates within the National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework, which the Australian, state and territory governments have endorsed. The Framework expects state governments to integrate it into their own policies and plans. It assigns States the role of service provision, service navigation and regular information.

Within South Australia, the program was funded as one measure in the Drought Support Package, which PIRSA administers. Its duration followed that funding.

SA Health implemented the program by increasing funding to NGOs already providing psychosocial community support in regional South Australia. Because these NGOs were already on the ground, they could expand quickly and maintain continuity of care through existing programs and referral pathways.

Delivery mechanisms

Local staffing

Support is staffed by people from the same regional communities, which makes it easier for people to get help from someone who can relate.

Flexible delivery

Support is offered face to face, by telehealth and through mobile outreach. Counsellors can meet people in their homes, in the community, or at community centres and medical centres. The program has no set session structure or entry criteria.

Wider referral pathways

People seeking mental health support previously relied on referral through a general practitioner or presentation at an emergency department. From July 2025, the following could all refer directly to the NGO providers:

• Rural Financial Counsellors (via Rural Business Support)
• PIRSA FaB Mentors
• local general practitioners
• Self referral

Support for referrers

DHW provided support materials and education sessions to these referrers listed above and produced a reference fact sheet listing the NGO provider contacts for each region.

Campaigns

The targeted social media campaign reached more than 276,000 people in its first four weeks. It was then extended for a further four weeks, with new images promoting the phone, online and walk-in support options available. The formal Communications Campaign run from November 2025, saw Meta deliver 3,0091,201 impressions against a target of 584,000. This campaign drove traffic to the Drought Mental Health Support web page.

A regional campaign used radio, local newspapers, digital messaging and targeted social media. In its first month, the campaign delivered 4,127 visits to drought mental health webpage – a 1,033% increase compared to the four weeks before the campaign launched.

Posters, brochures and digital resources were provided for display in general practices, sporting clubs and community spaces

Reinforcing programs

The program worked alongside companion initiatives in the wider package that connect and activate communities and offer complementary support services.

Sequencing

• Industry consultation identified gaps in support.
• Funding was allocated within the drought package.
• Existing NGO providers expanded and referral pathways opened to non-clinical referrers.
• Awareness campaigns directed people to the expanded services.
• Community activities and companion grants maintained social connection.

Framework application

Applying the National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework provides a structured, evidence-based approach to responding to the complex mental health needs of disaster-affected communities. The Drought Mental Health Support Program led by SA Health enabled the delivery of the right support, to the right people, at the right time and in the right place, helping communities recover and build long-term resilience. Source ↗

Lifespan

The program was framed as support over a 12-month period.

Cost & Resourcing

The program’s main resourcing demand is operating funding for NGO counselling and outreach staff based in regional areas. Smaller budget lines cover community activities, digital tools and awareness campaigns.

Budget

DHW Drought Mental Health Support Program

The program budget was $2.5 million and funded expanded mental health and psychosocial support services, community wellbeing activities, referral pathway development, awareness campaigns and culturally appropriate supports.

Complementary PIRSA Drought Wellbeing Program

Separately, PIRSA administered a $1 million drought wellbeing program delivered through partner organisations. This funding supported community wellbeing projects, mental health literacy activities, peer support initiatives and social connection programs.

The $2.5 million is allocated as follows:

NGO providers

$1.2 million went to Centacare, Uniting SA, Mind Australia and Skylight Mental Health to provide more mental health support across the state.

Culturally safe support

Relationships Australia provides support for CALD communities, and the Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia developed resources to support social and emotional wellbeing of Aboriginal communities in drought-affected regions of South Australia. Source 1 ↗ Source 2 ↗

Men’s Tables

$250,000 funds at least eight Men’s Tables.

Farmer-designed tools

$80,000 is invested in tools such as iFarmwell.

Wider initiatives

More than $600,000 funds other wellbeing, resilience and mental health initiatives, including Emotional Resilience and Suicide Awareness training, support, information and resources for the broader community and for Aboriginal and CALD communities.

Co-Benefits & Trade-Offs

Community wellbeing co-benefits (largely delivered through complementary PIRSA initiatives):

Events, community activities, physical activity programs and peer-support initiatives strengthened social connection and community resilience in drought-affected regions. These initiatives complemented the DHW mental health response by helping maintain community connectedness and reducing isolation.

Community members gain skills to support each other- the companion measures provide peer-supported spaces for people to connect.

Expanding referral rights to Rural Financial Counsellors, PIRSA FaB Mentors and PIRSA hotline staff creates a direct link between financial and business support and mental health services. This gives people a route into mental health support through contacts they already use.

Equity Considerations

Access to services

The program makes support available across drought-affected communities and offers individual, family and group sessions according to community need. Access routes were expanded to include self-referral and direct referral by trusted non-clinical contacts, to reach as many people as possible.

This expands access to support to wider groups taking into account barriers to seeking mental health help.

Languages and cultural safety

Mental health support is available in community languages and to CALD communities. Relationships Australia SA provides mental health support for CALD communities in drought-affected areas. Sustainable resources were developed, to support these communities beyond the drought program.

Aboriginal communities

The Aboriginal Health Council of South Australia developed resources with and for Aboriginal communities in drought affected regions in South Australia.

Impact & Evidence

The program reports reach and service-use figures.

Embed a link to the AFAC Conference Poster which includes visualisation of the increase in service uptake due to communications campaigns.

Communications campaign

The campaign has raised awareness of common symptoms of mental health challenges and promoted the support available. The Campaign has encouraged help-seeking by highlighting free, flexible and confidential services and acknowledging barriers in regional communities such as distance, privacy and access. Advertising ran across social media, digital display, regional print and radio. It reached 3.9 million impressions and more than 10,000 visits to the campaign landing page across the whole campaign.

Service use

Support is delivered through face-to-face appointments, outreach services, regional town offices and telephone support. Service use increased after the campaign launch, reaching 221 sessions in February 2026 and 655 sessions in total, and this uptake was maintained for the duration of the program.

Mental health as adaptive capacity

Regions can act to address the lasting impact of disasters, including drought, on the mental health of individuals and communities. Mental health and wellbeing are linked to adaptive capacity and should be embedded in both preparation and recovery action.

Integrate mental health and wellbeing into drought response

The South Australian experience demonstrates the value of delivering a dedicated mental health response alongside complementary community wellbeing initiatives. Distinguishing between psychosocial support services and broader community wellbeing activities enables clearer governance, targeted investment and stronger outcomes

Expand trusted local providers first

Aim to work with trusted NGOs already working in affected areas, with staff from those communities, allowing rapid expansion and strengthening continuity of care.

Increase the ways that community members access mental health support

Financial counsellors, business mentors and hotline staff are people farmers already speak to. Opening referral to these organisations, as well as to self-referral can increase ease of uptake of resources. This action also recognises the fact that different professions may take on mental health roles (accidental counsellors) when communities face disasters or long-term stressors.

Pair clinical support with community connection

Funding local events and clubs helps to reinforce connections and mental wellbeing in community and can be integrated into an overall mental health approach.

The Australian National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework

The South Australian Drought Mental Health program, and wider mental health support program following major disasters is informed by the National Disaster Mental and Health Wellbeing Framework. The framework has eight guiding principles. The principles are set out here as they have lessons for MCAP regions looking to develop specific disaster resilience mental health programs. Source ↗

1. Strengthen local community capability: Develop and strengthen local community capability for mental health and wellbeing preparedness, response and recovery. Workers and community leaders with local knowledge and strong inter-personal relationships are vital to this.

2. Establish regular communication: Regular communication (via multiple means) from a trusted source of information is essential to reduce confusion. Information and resources that can be adapted locally should be provided in a coordinated way for tailoring by each community. Both physical and mental health needs should be considered to ensure an integrated approach. Exaggerated and emotive imagery should be avoided in public communication.

3. Develop flexible mental health and wellbeing responses: Mental health and wellbeing responses must be adapted to local and emerging conditions and be able to integrate flexibly with the wide range of businesses and services people use.

4. Ensure frictionless access to help: Services should be welcoming and easy to access, particularly for those unsure of where to go. Eligibility should be clear and simple, and cross-service collaboration adopted widely to minimise the need for repeat story-telling and to ensure people can seamlessly access the most appropriate service for them.

5. Provide culturally safe and appropriate support: Recognise the cultural diversity within communities and prepare responses that are understandable, relatable and culturally respectful. Recognise the cumulative trauma and cultural impact of disaster on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and ensure culturally safe and appropriate support is available.

6. Minimise the impact of aftermath stressors: Reducing the impact of aftermath stressors on people’s mental health and wellbeing helps to improve recovery outcomes and reduce a person’s risk of experiencing long-term mental ill-health. Coordination functions are essential to mitigate stress, duplication and practical difficulties in service delivery.

7. Learn and improve: What has been learned from previous disasters should guide community preparedness ahead of, during and after disasters. Ways to record lessons and share experiences with broad community involvement need to be agreed and publicised.

8. Plan long-term following the disaster: Planning and funding for the preparation, response and recovery from disasters, especially in relation to mental health and wellbeing, needs a long-term horizon, that is, over five – ten years.

These principles come from the Australian National Disaster Mental Health and Wellbeing Framework.