Five towns across the state have been shortlisted to receive up to 10 years of funding to improve mental health in their area, as part of the Fay Fuller Foundation's 'Our Town' program.
Applications to receive the Our Town funding were received last year, with Kimba, Berri, Ceduna, Cummins and a combined application from a cluster of communities in the Mid Murray region (including Mannum, Swan Reach, Blanchetown and Truro) all shortlisted to potentially receive one of two potentially multi-million dollar support packages.
Rather than set guildelines being established as to how the funding needed to be used, towns had to submit applications with a strategic vision to address specific mental health problems within their region.
Each of the shortlisted towns will receive initial seed funding and support to develop long-term plans to build mental health capability, with the two successful applicants being announced by Christmas.
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The program has also been expanded to offer a third long-term funding package to Kangaroo Island, to assist with recovery following the bushfires.
While exact details of the funding packages have not yet been decided, the Fay Fuller Foundation reported that KI and the two final towns will each likely receive funding in the order of $3m across the 10 years.
Fay Fuller Foundation chief executive officer congratulated all the towns that applied for the funding.
"We received strong applications from right around the state for this funding," he said.
"It clearly demonstrated a great need for help and support in the area of mental health."
Mr Fay said the communities which applied identified challenges they wished to address such as reducing the stigma around mental health, bringing community members together - especially those who were more isolated - and upskilling locals as mental health first responders.
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