Not-for-profit group Smiling Minds has received $2.5 million in funding to deliver meaningful emotional support to 600 rural and regional primary school across NSW.

Director of Major Program Delivery Kerrie Buahgiar said the program would see "evidence-based mindfulness tools and resources" delivered to schools typically disadvantaged by distance or expense.

"We know that there are increased rates of mental illness across regional areas, whether that be a result of less face-to-face support or distance from services, but as this program is entirely online, students and teachers will be able to access it no matter where they are," she said.

The Smiling Mind Regional and Rural Schools Program was also delivered to various schools last year, including Mount Austin Public School, Lake Albert Public School and Turvey Park Public School.

Delivered entirely online over three terms, schools will receive in-depth training for all staff, designed to help schools implement mindfulness-based social and emotional learning. Teachers will also receive digital tools and resources, and practical guidance on how to implement these strategies in the classroom.

As part of the program, teachers will be given access to the newly developed Smiling Mind Learning Hub. The online hub will provide teachers in remote areas the opportunity to connect and share experiences with educators across the country who are also participating in the program.

The result, according to Ms Buahgiar, was a flow on effect to the rest of the community.

"There is a myriad of benefits to this program at all different levels," she said.

"It shows improvements in emotional understanding and management, classrooms are calmer, children are more resilient, there's more compassion and when students and teachers go home, they share those skills and ways with their families."

The focus on primary school-aged children was also beneficial, according to Ms Buahgiar, who said one in seven children experience mental illness.

"Half of those cases are onset by the age of 12, too, so working to support the mind in those younger years is so important," she said.

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Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt acknowledged the importance of the Smiling Mind program.

"The Government understands how important it is to equip young people with the skills to build resilience and maintain good mental health throughout their life, and are proud to partner with Smiling Mind to deliver this vital program nationwide," he said.

Smiling Mind CEO and Clinical Psychologist Dr Addie Wootten said the need for this type of training was "urgent".

"If we want to see a meaningful reduction in the incidence of mental illness in Australia, it is critical that we deliver proactive, prevention-focused mental health support from an early age," she said.

Applications for the Smiling Mind Regional and Rural Schools Program are now open to eligible schools nationwide, with training cohorts running through to mid-2022. Offers will be made on a rolling basis but demand will be high, so school leaders are encouraged to apply early.

Queensland and South Australia will be the first to receive training via the program in Term 1, with New South Wales and other states to follow suit from Term 2.

To register your schools in the Smiling Mind Regional and Rural Schools Program, or to find out more information about the program, visit: https://www.smilingmind.com.au/regional-and-rural-schools-program