Rural and remote communities

Around 25% of the NSW population live outside of major cities.¹ While people in rural and remote areas tend to have higher life satisfaction and stronger community ties, they also face challenges from their geographic isolation.

Data show:

• people in rural and remote communities often have poorer health and welfare outcomes compared with those living in major cities
• suicide rates increase as population density decreases, meaning the further away from a major city, there is a higher rate of suicide and suicidal behaviours.²

Risk factors and challenges

Risk factors for people in rural and remote communities often create barriers to accessing the appropriate care, including:

• limited availability of resources and services, e.g. primary healthcare, tertiary care, housing, employment and education
• a lower likelihood to seek help, particularly by rural men
• limited access to culturally appropriate services for Aboriginal people
• barriers posed by travelling to access services, including distance, time and cost
• increased isolation
• climate distress, including drought, floods or bushfire
• increased access to firearms, chemicals or other means that might increase risk
• increased socioeconomic disadvantage due to job availability or security
• increased financial distress due to natural disasters, loss of livestock, loss of property, cost of living and job security.³

Considerations

Suicide prevention strategies in rural and remote Australia must be unique to the local area.³

Before engaging with people from rural and remote communities

• Ensure service mapping covers smaller towns if service providers have provision in large geographic areas.
• Connect with local knowledge groups if service mapping is limited.
• Familiarise yourself with the cultural, economic and social factors of the person's region or town. No one town is the same.

Throughout aftercare

• Consider appropriate and safe modes of delivery, including when to use in-person or virtual care.
• Take the time to understand how the person's region may influence their care and recovery, e.g. availability of employment and housing.
• Link consumers to community supports and networks to promote a sense of community and connection, especially when service access is limited.
• Adapt solutions based on the consumer's location, e.g. recognising limited employment opportunities in smaller towns.
• Adapt safety plans and risk escalation processes to consider things like rurality, access to firearms and distance from emergency services.

References

1. Rural communities. Population estimates NSW. Sydney (AU): HealthStats NSW; 2023 [cited 18 Jul 2025].
2. Suicide by Remoteness Areas. Canberra (AU): Australian Institute of Health and Welfare; 2023 [cited 25 Sept 2024].
3. Rural and Remote Populations: Priority Populations in Suicide Prevention. Newcastle (AU): Life in Mind Australia; 2023 [cited 29 Sept 2024].