Recommendations & Conclusions
7 items
2
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health
Acknowledged
While experience of nature and the countryside is consistently identified as potentially beneficial for people’s mental health, our evidence is equally clear that the isolation inherent in rural living poses a significant challenge to the mental health of those who reside and work in these areas. In addition, other factors …
Government response. The government recognizes that individuals living and working in rural areas may face specific challenges in accessing necessary mental health services, directly acknowledging the committee's observation.
3
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health
Acknowledged
We believe that, while the available evidence does not reveal a mental health crisis in rural England, there are more than enough glaring gaps, and obvious red flags, to warrant urgent and meaningful action, aiming to achieve a degree of preventative impact rather having to wait for an inevitable crisis …
Government response. The government states the new Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023-2028, published on September 11, 2023, identifies priority groups and risk factors, including those affecting rural areas and specific occupations. It also notes that the ONS is using Census 2021 …
5
Recommendation
Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health
Acknowledged
DEFRA should be an active stakeholder in any national suicide prevention strategy, as the Department is responsible for populations and occupational groups arguably at higher-than-average risk of poor mental health and death by suicide. However, DEFRA does not appear to have carved out a clear role in the last two …
Government response. The government acknowledged the importance of addressing suicide risk factors in rural, agricultural, and veterinary populations, noting the new 2023-2028 Suicide Prevention Strategy identifies these groups. It also highlighted a new £10 million grant fund and ongoing ONS data work …
6
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health
Acknowledged
Adopting a more joined-up approach to public health focused on early intervention could make a positive contribution to preventing suicide amongst agricultural and veterinary workers. It would need to ‘wrap-around’ people at potential risk, incorporating the NHS, other key public services and the regular contacts that people have in their …
Government response. The government pointed to the new 2023-2028 Suicide Prevention Strategy, which includes actions to tackle risk factors for rural, agricultural, and veterinary workers. It also highlighted a new £10 million Suicide Prevention Grant Fund and ongoing ONS data work to …
8
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health
Acknowledged
Local government is carrying a substantial proportion of the responsibility for delivering the existing national strategy through local suicide prevention plans. However, it is unclear how much these have identified, or address, the specific needs of rural areas. Finally, we are very concerned that core local funding is not ringfenced.
Government response. The government points to the new Suicide Prevention Strategy for England 2023-2028, which identifies risk factors affecting rural areas and specific occupations. It mentions a £10 million Suicide Prevention Grant Fund, but confirms funding beyond 2024/25 is subject to future …
16
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health
Acknowledged
We believe Integrated Care Systems (ICS) will be crucial to determining whether NHS mental health services are able to respond better in future to rural communities’ needs.
Government response. The government acknowledges the importance of Integrated Care Systems in providing accessible mental health services for rural communities, stating work is already underway and funding formulas account for rural costs.
25
Conclusion
Fourth Report - Rural Mental Health
Acknowledged
Government policies and regulatory activity are key sources of stress for the farming community so Ministers should think hard about the impact of their decisions. The Environmental Land Management (ELM) programme is a case in point given the prolonged uncertainty. DEFRA’s attempt to take account of mental health at least …
Government response. The government recognized policy uncertainty as a stressor for farmers and detailed how the Farming Resilience Fund provides business support expected to have an indirect positive impact on farmer wellbeing, with providers asked to offer signposting to mental health support.