{"id":348475,"date":"2024-05-23T17:54:48","date_gmt":"2024-05-23T07:54:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=348475"},"modified":"2024-05-23T18:05:45","modified_gmt":"2024-05-23T08:05:45","slug":"survey-finds-high-levels-of-distress","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2024\/05\/23\/survey-finds-high-levels-of-distress\/","title":{"rendered":"Survey Finds High Levels Of Distress"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Three of the “people connectors” who were doorknocking in the South Burnett … Natty Dynevor, Kalchiri Jacobs and Norman Wragge (Photo: Nancy Jayde Photography)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

May 23, 2024<\/strong><\/p>\n

A door-to-door mental health and wellbeing survey in Cherbourg, Kingaroy and Murgon has found 33 per cent of people reported consistently high, or very high, levels of distress.<\/p>\n

This is two and half times above the ABS national average.<\/p>\n

And 44 per cent of those who sought help reported they could not get the help they needed.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Assisting Communities through Direct Connection (ACDC) project was organised by Community Mental Health Australia (CMHA) which partnered with service provider EACH.<\/p>\n

The door-to-door survey team spoke to 391 South Burnett householders between August 2023 and February 2024.<\/p>\n

The \u201cpeople connectors\u201d also let householders know about free or low-cost services available in the area.<\/p>\n

Thirty per cent of respondents experienced one or more barriers to accessing telehealth services and 28 per cent reported having limited or no access to a private space at home where they could speak to someone online about their mental health and wellbeing.<\/p>\n

CMHA CEO Bill Gye said Cherbourg, Murgon and Kingaroy had significant differences in community profile but overall the study strongly confirmed there were\u00a0 significant local challenges with finances, housing and unemployment.<\/strong><\/p>\n

He said online or telehealth services could play a role in addressing the high levels of distress, however participants reported having one or more barriers to accessing such services.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe results clearly point to a greater need for investment in local psychosocial supports that are accessible, culturally appropriate and ideally free, and in the longer term the social determinants must continue to be addressed to improve life and closing the gap,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Of the householders surveyed:<\/strong><\/p>\n