Lawrence Springborg chaired a mental health meeting in Mount Isa on Tuesday, which focused on co-ordinating services to drought-affected areas of Queensland. 

“We are obviously concerned that in some areas people do take their own life, and that’s why we need to encourage some people to know there are services available and there are people that care and they are able to access those services,” Mr Springborg said. “The great difficulty we have, which was raised today [Tuesday] by just about everyone, and also Rob Katter raised it, ‘how do you get that person to access those services that has become reclusive?’” 

Mr Springborg said the government had been proactive in attending events including camp drafts and rodeos to advertise services to the community. 

“Unless people come forward and access that service, it’s very difficult to intrude in their life – it’s very, very difficult,” he said.

“So my encouragement is, if you’re there, please come forward.

“Don’t feel you’re the only person out there, because just about every single Australian – including members of Parliament and doctors and you name it – go through periods of self-doubt and difficulties in their life. 

“It’s not just you.” 

North West Hospital and Health Service chairman Paul Woodhouse asked members of North West communities to watch over their neighbours. 

Mr Woodhouse, who has a grazier background, observed people already looked after their own. 

“It’s a very resilient region, the North West, very resilient,” Mr Woodhouse said. 

And circumstances could be improving for people who were struggling with drought and economic downturn, he said. 

 “Cattle prices are improving,” he said.

“Every day is another day closer to the beginning of the wet [season].”