'Desperately disappointing' end to rural health service

A mental health initiative to tackle suicide and depression in rural communities is likely to be one of the major casualties of a government decision to reject funding for an umbrella organisation for rural health. The Rural Health Alliance Aotearoa New Zealand has had its request for $600,000 to make up its core funding short-fall rejected. Its chief executive Michelle Thompson says it means that after June it will be forced to step away from its contract with the Ministry of Health to help support rural people in mental distress.