THE Salvation Army is battling to cut high suicide rates in the bush with a project that includes a DVD showing people how to get help for depression.
The Salvos will distribute more than 500,000 free DVDs across Australia over the coming months as part of the Braver Stronger Wiser project.
The DVD, to be launched today, uses the stories of four rural Australians to show how depression can be beaten.
And it gives tips on how to manage the condition.
Salvation Army spokesman James Condon said the project aimed to respond directly to the crisis in rural Australia, which often had a lack of GP and psychological services.
"We know that the bush is hurting and this project is about offering a practical tool to people to show them help is out there," Lieutenant Colonel Condon said.
"Depression can ultimately happen to anybody and it can be managed."
Statistics from BeyondBlue, which is backing the project, show a million adults and 100,000 young people suffer depression each year, costing the community $600 million.
A South Australian study blamed drought and increasing social isolation for figures showing 34 in every 100,000 male farmers commit suicide, compared to 24 per 100,000 among rural men generally.
It found female farmers had the same suicide rate as other rural women, six in 100,000.
A number of well-known Australians are supporting the project, including actor Jack Thompson, musicians Iva Davies and Troy Cassar-Daley, and former swimmer Duncan Armstrong.
Thredbo landslide survivor Stuart Diver will launch the DVD in Sydney on Thursday.
AAP
