Students at Nhill, Kaniva, Dimboola and Goroke colleges will soon be able to access headspace Horsham’s mental-health services via telehealth.

Telehealth provides opportunities for people with no access to public transport to look after their mental health through online appointments.

Freemasons Foundation Victoria gave headspace Horsham a $10,000 grant to help provide telehealth in the Wimmera.

Freemasons Lowan Lodge 107 engagement officer Rhys Webb said a need for more mental-health services in the region was highlighted last year when a Nhill business owner took their own life.

“We began discussing the lack of access to mental-health services in our community and the people who need this assistance,” he said.

“We made contact with headspace Horsham and spoke to them about access to services for our young people, which is when we learnt about telehealth.

“We approached regional businesses for pricing for all of the equipment needed.”

Lowan Lodge 107 applied for $5000 for Nhill and Kaniva colleges and Dimboola Lodge 144 applied for $5000 for Goroke and Dimboola colleges through Freemasons Foundation Victoria.

“We are thankful that our applications were successful and look forward to rolling out these services in the schools and showing our commitment to reducing stigma and increasing access to mental-health services in rural communities,” Mr Webb said.

Headspace Horsham provides counselling and support to young people aged 12 to 25.

The service covers issues such as relationships, drug and alcohol, mental health, bullying, anxiety, depression, bad thoughts and uncertainty about the future.

Headspace Horsham manager Liz Rowe said it was wonderful that organisations such as the Freemasons were making mental-health services in rural communities a priority.

“We are extremely grateful for this funding, which will help the continued roll-out of telehealth services across rural Wimmera communities and improve access to mental-health services for young people,” she said.

Ms Rowe said headspace Horsham had already rolled out the telehealth service at eight rural schools, with the recent funding taking the number to 12.

“Young people are taking the opportunity to use the service, which highlights the need in these more remote areas,” she said.

“Through multi–purpose secure safe rooms already available at their school, students can go online and access the same services that their city counterparts can access face to face, using video technology.

“The service is also available for young people at our Horsham office.”

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