The Mental Health Commission of NSW has turned its eyes to the region, and its ears to locals’ experiences during the COVID-19 lockdowns of this year. 

After a tumultuous year dealing with the stresses that accompany a pandemic, such as a legally enforced limitation on social interactions and an unstable workforce, the true toll of the pandemic on mental health is unknown but likely dramatic.  

Commissioner Catherine Lourey is urging rural and regional residents of NSW to complete an online survey, sharing their experiences to improve government and community understanding of the effects of lockdowns.  

In 2020, where the pandemic was prevalent, but the strict local lockdowns were not, a similar survey found that there were both positive and negative mental health outcomes from COVID-19. In fact, 94 per cent of respondents identified positive lessons they had learnt from COVID-19 and related events.  

Surprisingly enough, fewer survey respondents in Western NSW reported high or very high psychological distress than in 2019, showing that any negative impact on mental health was something that locals were resilient to - or perhaps that the short-term inconveniences of the pandemic paled in comparison to the impact of the prolonged drought.

This year, however, proved the pandemic to be less the one-year event we thought it would be, a realisation that dawned on the public as mass lockdowns occurred across the state, and events were cancelled for the second year in the row.  

“People with a lived experience of mental health issues, and those who care for them, may be feeling particularly vulnerable or isolated as we deal with ‘pandemic fatigue’ from the ongoing upheaval in our lives,” said Ms Lourey.  

The isolation and limited access to health services have historically rendered regions like the Western Plains at high risk of poor mental health, particularly being on the frontline of uncontrollably devastating factors like mice plagues and droughts that come without refuge.  

Unfortunately, research has shown that the trend remains.  

While 19 per 100,000 of residents in Western NSW experience high stress and low mental health, in major cities the rate is a much lower 11.5. Moreover, while Western NSW averages 13.2 suicides per 100,000 people, the rest of NSW averages at a rate of 11.  

Still, the survey could prove itself surprising, much like last year. While social interactions were minimal, for some there was a greater focus on maintaining those connections in the online space, a more efficient workday from working from home arrangements, and the sense of relief that came from the vaccines slow but sufficient roll out across the state.   

“We want to hear from people about their experiences first-hand, not only about the health and social media implications of the 2021 restrictions on health and wellbeing, but also how they’ve managed their own and each other’s wellbeing,” Ms Lourey said.  

The survey is open until December 6 to anyone 18 years and older in regional and rural NSW.  

The findings will be used to assist the Commission to identify the most appropriate strategies to support mental health and wellbeing as NSW moves towards post-pandemic life.