A researcher from the University of South Australia says there are a few changes which would greatly improve mental health services in Australia, particularly to rural areas.

University of South Australia clinical psychologist Susan Simpson says studies have proven that telemental healthcare can be as effective as a face-to-face treatment.

Video conferencing for mental health checks should be covered by Medicare to bring the service to areas that currently miss out, Dr Simpson said.

“Some clients actually indicate that they prefer video conferencing to face-to-face therapy, saying that it increases their level of comfort, they feel like they have their own space and have control,” she said.

Separate issues have left rural and remote Australian with very little access to mental health services. The perceived high cost of treating any issues dissuade some people from having themselves checked, which is compounded by the lack of access to facilities requiring long and costly journeys.

“I think one of those things is a lack of funding currently for psychology services... there's a lack of incentive,” Dr Simpson says.

“With other telepsychiatry services, that's a wonderful template because Government has offered Medicare rebates to patients who are accessing psychiatry services from remote areas, whereas only people who live in urban areas and live close to psychologists are currently able to access Medicare rebates.”

Life in rural areas has prompted a disproportionate prevalence of some mental health issues, authorities warn.

“People in remote and rural Australia are actually at a disadvantage in that way in that they're not able to access incentives or rebates for video conferencing-based services,” Dr Simpson said.

“There's a higher prevalence of mental health problems in rural areas than in urban areas and actually ... suicide rates are about 1.2 to 2.4 times higher.

“That's because of things like socio-economic disadvantage, loneliness, isolation, they have a harsher natural environment, they're more vulnerable to natural disasters such as drought.”

Telemental health delivery was one of the key points for discussions at a conference in Adelaide over the weekend.