CP@clinic, a community paramedicine programme, may improve mental wellbeing in older rural adults both directly through onward referrals and indirectly through improvements in mental health determinants across physical and social domains.
Nearly half of clients attending CP@clinic reported anxiety or depression.
Clients reporting anxiety or depression experienced higher rates of social isolation, poverty, and health lifestyle risks.
CP@clinic was reported by participants to help improve their mental health through both direct and indirect mechanisms.
The CP@clinic programme collected data on a broad range of health indicators relevant to mental wellbeing.
The study identified a clear overlap between mental, physical, and social health needs among CP@clinic consumers.
This research suggests that a community paramedicine programme called CP@clinic, run in rural Victoria, Australia, may be a promising way to address mental health needs among older adults living in regional areas. The study found that nearly half (47%) of the 205 people who attended the free drop-in clinics reported experiencing anxiety or depression, and these individuals also tended to face greater social isolation, financial hardship, and unhealthy lifestyle risks. This highlights how mental health problems in this population are closely tied to physical and social challenges. Participants who were interviewed reported that the CP@clinic service helped their mental health in two main ways: directly, by connecting them with other healthcare providers through referrals, and indirectly, by helping with physical health and social wellbeing, which in turn supported their mental health. The community paramedics offered free three-hour drop-in sessions at six clinic sites, providing health assessments and advice in an accessible format for people who might otherwise struggle to reach services. This research suggests that community paramedicine could play a valuable role in reaching vulnerable older adults in rural areas who may not otherwise access mental health support. Because the study was a feasibility trial, the authors recommend that CP@clinic be further evaluated with more rigorous research methods to confirm and build on these findings. The results point to the importance of community-based services that can address the interconnected mental, physical, and social health needs of older rural Australians.
Hemming L, Hardman R, Reynolds L, Sharples R, Agarwal G, Spelten E. (2026). How Can Community Paramedics Help in Addressing Mental Health for Vulnerable Australians?. The Australian journal of rural health. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajr.70199