The theme of today’s World Mental Health Day is ‘connect with your community’ – to show how powerful social connection and community can be in building strong mental health.

With that in mind, the Brewarrina Aboriginal Medical Service (BAMS) invited their community to come down, grab slice of cake and an egg and bacon roll, and have a chat about what it good mental health means and how people in their patch can promote it.

The event surpassed BAMS's expectations, with over 25 people stopping by to help bring people together.

BAMS social and emotional wellbeing worker Chantelle Lee says it created a safe space for the community to discuss issues around mental health, and was aimed to show BAMS is "open to support community".

Ms Lee says mental health issues "affect people of all genders, ages, races and abilities."

"Good mental health supports personal wellbeing, strength, and meaning, while not paying attention to it could lead to severe issues like depression and anxiety that affect every aspect of life," she says.

"Investing in mental health improves overall heath and leads to a better quality of life."

 Bruno, Nerida Maali and Dallas at the BAMS morning tea today [IMAGE: SUPPLIES].

She says there are many issues that come with regional and remote living.

Being geographically isolated and having limited access to transport can create challenges for people struggling with mental ill-health.

"The lack of appropriate facilities and resources means there are minimal options to help people."

However, there are things that small rural communities can do to help ward of some of the primary causes of poor mental health - and Brewarrina's smoko was right on point.

A Relationships Australia NSW (RANSW) spokesperson says isolation, loneliness and poor social connection are detrimental to an individual's mental health.

This World Mental Health day, RANSW want to put relationships as a central topic in the mental health discussion.

RANSW CEO Elizabeth Shaw says these issues are "major drivers of mental ill-health."

“Every day through our services, we see loneliness and relationship distress as common themes – yet they’re often siloed from mainstream mental health care,” Ms Shaw said.

“Whether it’s an older person impacted by abuse, a couple in crisis, or children affected by family conflict, the emotional toll and disconnection can be devastating if left unaddressed.

"By investing in relationships and recognising their importance, we are investing in mental health.”

Ms Shaw said early intervention and stronger integration between mental health and relationship services are critical.

“Feedback from our frontline services reinforces the need for increased investment in early relational mental health support, the inclusion of relationships in mental health reform, and greater community awareness,” she said.

In August the NSW Legislative Council released a report The prevalence, causes and impacts of loneliness in New South Wales, which outlines the issues around isolation and relationships

The report indicates that poor social relationships are a key driver to loneliness and social isolation.

It outlines that regional and remote NSW residents can be significantly affected due to geographical isolation, natural disasters, lack of access to services and supports, and isolated working conditions, such as farming.

"World Mental Health Day provides a timely opportunity to refocus the national conversation on connection as a key pillar of health," the RANSW spokesperson says.

Community events and taking casual opportunities to catch up can help restore that missing link in mental health.