Key facts about rural psychiatry:

1. Regional Australia contains a wide variety of communities, each with unique health determinants.

2. Aboriginal mental health is a significant issue, as a higher proportion of Aboriginal people live in rural and remote areas.

3. Isolated communities may require different models of service provision, with a greater emphasis on liaison between different health professionals, visiting services, telehealth and transfer to larger centres.

4. Social isolation is an important factor in the mental health and wellbeing of rural people.

5. Suicide is more prevalent in rural areas, especially among men.

6. Economic recession in some rural areas, especially agricultural regions, is a key health determinant.

7. Due to stigmatisation, people in rural areas are less likely to report mental health problems and more likely to somatise symptoms.

8. Small town environments can affect service provision, especially regarding confidentiality, personal / professional boundaries and patients’ willingness to engage in treatment.

9. There is a shortage of services, overall, and particularly in specialist areas such as aged care and child psychiatry.

10. Doctors working in under-resourced rural areas should take care to manage stress and prevent burnout.