A report this month published in the Rural Services Network detailed the response from the government to the EFRA (Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs) Committee report which was published in May. 

Despite the EFRA Report finding worrying conclusions as a result of its research, the Government has found that the specific mental health needs of rural communities ‘do not require targeted action and consider that existing provisions are sufficient to safeguard rural mental health.’ Do you agree?

Key findings of the EFRA Inquiry and recommendations are:

• Rural Communities’ needs are not fully reflected in mental health policy and services and national NHS planning.
• NHS mental health services are often not fairly accessible for rural communities, with services largely centred in towns and cities creating barriers to access, compounded by the limitations and weaknesses of rural public transport and digital connectivity.
• Far too much avoidable demand ends up at the door of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) in rural areas because of a fundamental lack of social infrastructure and youth services.

To read the full article from RSN Online click here.

At CCB we know the importance of having local spaces and accessible places for the community to socialise in and make those important connections that improve our mental health and make us feel less isolated. That is why we are busy putting together a two-year project to deliver more Warm & Welcoming Places in our rural communities, where residents can spend time with others in comfortable surroundings with access to refreshments and activities of interest. If you’d like to know more about the ambitions of our project you can read more (and possibly donate) on The Good Exchange. Click here.