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Select Committee · Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee

Rural mental health

Status: Closed Opened: 16 Nov 2021 Closed: 9 Nov 2023 21 recommendations 10 conclusions 1 report

Improving the quality of mental health provision has been an increasing priority for the Government and the NHS in recent years. The NHS Long Term Plan, published on 7 January 2019 sets out the NHS’s aim to advancing mental health equalities, and commits it to providing an additional 380,000 people per year with access to …

Clear

Reports

1 report
Title HC No. Published Items Response
Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health HC 248 18 May 2023 31 Responded

Recommendations & Conclusions

4 items
9 Recommendation Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health Accepted in Part

Ringfence local suicide prevention funding and commission ONS for real-time occupational suicide surveillance

We recommend that the Government: a) confirm the timeline and consultation process for revising the new National Suicide Prevention Strategy b) confirm and ringfence additional funding beyond 2023/24 for local suicide prevention to allow local authorities to contribute effectively to delivery of the national strategy, and c) commission the ONS …

Government response. The government states the new Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023-2028 was published on September 11, 2023. It notes a £10 million Suicide Prevention Grant Fund but clarifies that funding beyond 2024/25 is subject to future Spending Reviews. The Office …
12 Recommendation Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health Accepted in Part

Require joint DEFRA/DHSC team to integrate interventions with DfT and DSIT for rural mental health access

The solution to providing accessible rural mental health services is unlikely to be “one thing” but more likely a package involving innovation and imagination from both patients and service providers. The new joint DEFRA/DHSC rural mental health team should consider how best to prepare and make an effective and integrated …

Government response. The government cited its 'Unleashing Rural Opportunities' report, ongoing work to improve rural transport and digital connectivity (Project Gigabit), and increased online options for mental health services to address accessibility challenges. The Department for Transport committed to looking for opportunities …
29 Recommendation Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health Accepted in Part

Government must accelerate rural transport strategy and address digital infrastructure shortfall.

Some of the challenges of rural daily life can have a significant impact on people’s mental wellbeing. The UK Government needs to address these, including through its various funding routes for levelling-up; but without more detail we cannot evaluate the difference it will make. On upgrading transport infrastructure and digital …

Government response. The government outlined existing rural-proofing mechanisms and the Levelling Up and Regeneration Bill, along with increased digital access to mental health therapy. It committed to the Department for Transport soon publishing its Future of Transport Rural Strategy and stated DfT …
190 Recommendation Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health Accepted in Part

Establish national mission, assess, and fund rural youth mental health services provision.

Given the over-reliance on CAMHS in rural areas as a response to mental ill- health amongst children and young people there is an urgent need to address the shortfall in youth services. Including youth services under the levelling-up agenda would give children and young people’s wellbeing the strategic prominence and …

Government response. The government states mental health is a priority driver for the Levelling Up mission and reiterates the National Youth Guarantee by 2025. It rejects a new call for evidence, citing a recent review, but points to existing £300m investment in …

Oral evidence sessions

5 sessions
Date Witnesses
12 Jul 2022 Claire Murdoch · NHS England, Gillian Keegan · Department of Health and Social Care, Jonathan Baker · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Rt Hon The Lord Benyon · Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Samantha Allen · North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board, Zoe Seager · Department of Health and Social Care View ↗
21 Jun 2022 Dr Jaspreet Phull · Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust, Dr Tim Sanders · Royal College of General Practitioners, Jacqui Morrissey · Samaritans, Kate Miles · DPJ Foundation, Professor Jim McManus · Hertfordshire County Council, Sarah Connery · Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust View ↗
24 May 2022 Carol Stockman · Cotswolds Community Wellbeing Service, Danny Hutchinson · Invictus Wellbeing, Edward Richardson · Farm Cornwall, Janette Smeeton · Derwent Rural Counselling Service, Mrs Melinda Raker · You Are Not Alone, Stephen Dodsworth · Darlington Farmers Auction Mart, Trudy Herniman · Farmerados View ↗
26 Apr 2022 Alicia Chivers · Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution, Barbara Piranty · Gloucestershire Rural Community Council, Dan Mobbs · Mancroft Advice Project, Dr Jude McCann · Farming Community Network, Dr Rosie Allister · Vetlife, James Russell · British Veterinary Association, Karen Black · Off the Record Bristol, Melanie Costas · Rural Mental Health Matters View ↗
15 Mar 2022 Dr David Rose · University of Reading, Dr Rebecca Wheeler · Centre for Rural Policy Research (CRPR), University of Exeter, Rachel Hutchings · Nuffield Trust, Sarah Hughes · Centre for Mental Health View ↗