Recommendation 17

We recommend the joint rural mental health policy and delivery team issue a call for evidence on the effectiveness of the ICS-model for providing rural communities with access to mental health services and publish its findings with proposals to address any shortcomings, by the end of March 2024. The team should work with rural ICSs, health providers, and charities, to identify cost-effective care pathways to increase provision and remove barriers to NHS treatment for agricultural and veterinary workers, by increasing flexibility in appointments times, options for care, and location of services including outreach at auction marts.