In A Good Place program accepting grant applications

Grants of up to $20,000 are available, for projects that aim to improve a region's mental health services and support, to boost social connectedness, and providing accession to mental health training and education.

The IAGP grant is now in its fourth year, and to date has awarded $600,000 in grants to 42 community-led projects looking to boost good mental health and wellbeing in rural and regional communities.

FRRR chief executive officer Natalie Egleton said social connectedness was vital during COVID-19.

"As the impact of the pandemic on people's mental health and wellbeing continues to evolve, it's more important than ever that those living in remote, rural and regional Australia have access to mental health services, tools and support," Ms Egleton said.

"One of the very first grants funded through this program was led by Lifeline Tasmania's Suicide Bereavement Support Group. Their project expanded its program outside of Hobart and into four rural Tasmanian communities that had been identified as having heightened risk of impacts from suicide deaths in the community," Ms Egleton explained.

"Through the project, locals were empowered to provide access to mental health support in their own community and were given training and resources to increase community understanding and knowledge of suicide postvention."

"Our partnership with CCI Giving means that we can support these kinds of community-based, non-clinical mental health approaches, which we know are more approachable for people in rural areas who may be unwilling to seek help due to a culture of self-reliance, and fear of the stigma associated with asking for help."

CCI Giving chair Jeremy Yipp said there had been a range of projects which had received IAGP grants across the past three years.

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"(The IAGP program) has funded a range of community-led projects that have encouraged people to stay connected, seek help and feel supported, especially in rural areas recovering from events such as drought, flooding and now COVID-19," he said.

"Like CCI Giving, FRRR shares our belief in the value and importance of remote, rural and regional communities and recognises that maintaining good mental health is a multi-faceted and lifelong process, requiring a range of approaches to accommodate for different needs and priorities - like responding to an unprecedented event."

In SA, previous IAGP grant recipients include the District Council of Yankalilla for their Fleurieu Coast Community Network project, as well as a mental wellbeing program to support a series of workshops in Kimba, Cleve and Tumby Bay for adolescent and adult men, focusing on improving mental health and reducing the risk of suicide.

Expressions of interest for the IAGP program are due on June 8, with selected organisations then invited to make a full application by June 15. Application outcomes will be announced in September.

For more information, or to apply, visit the FRRR website.

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