Impact of the mining industry on the mental health of landholders and rural communities in southwest Queensland.

Objective: We aimed to ascertain the extent of mental health problems in rural communities of southwest Queensland.

Methods: Twelve workshops were conducted within this region, asking community members about the issues which were affecting their mental health, the gaps in services and facilities, and suggestions as to how to strengthen their capacity to deal with mental health problems.

Results: The participants highlighted the higher cost of living through increased rental and goods and services costs.