Learning the language of rural mental health

Giving paramedicine students the tools to care for their own mental health, as well as that of their patients, is the aim of a program introduced by the Three Rivers Department of Rural Health. Based in the Riverina and Central West region of New South Wales, the department offers a range of services and programs within the Three Rivers regional footprint (Albury, Bathurst, Dubbo, Griffith, Orange and Wagga Wagga) to support nursing, midwifery, allied health and dentistry students.

The rural health education team implemented a support program to help paramedicine students engage in mental health conversations during a Work Integrated Learning (WIL) activity at a 2023 field day event. The program enabled students to participate safely in the experience and learn the language of rural mental health.

Learning how to have conversations about mental health can be complex but, for paramedicine students, it’s vitally important as they are likely to attend a large number of mental health calls in their future practice. It is also important that paramedicine students learn how to monitor and manage their own mental health.