Ministers questioned on rural mental health issues
7 July 2022
Ministers with responsibility for mental health issues will be questioned at the final evidence session of the Environment Food and Rural Affairs (EFRA) Committee’s inquiry into rural mental health on Tuesday 12 July at 2.30pm.
Scope of the session
Ministers and their aides will be asked about some key issues that have arisen over the course of the inquiry and the Government’s plans to address them. This could include:
- how to ensure the NHS has an accurate picture of mental health needs in rural communities, including of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ (DEFRA’s) responsibilities in this area;
- how to overcome barriers to access such as ‘digital exclusion’ and transport difficulties;
- the need for a greater understanding of issues affecting the farming community, including the impact of ‘shock events’ such as animal disease outbreaks or flooding;
- problems related to funding when costs-per-head of services are higher in rural areas than urban ones; and
- how the government considers and manages the mental health impact of its own policies on rural communities, such as the introduction of new farming subsidies.
Thiis is the fifth and final public evidence session of the inquiry. The first panel will hear evidence from national and local health care officials. The second panel will get the perspective of ministers and senior government officials.
Witnesses
Tuesday 12 July in the Grimond Room, Portcullis House, Westminster
Fist panel, from 2.30pm
- Claire Murdoch, National Director for Mental Health for NHS England
- Samantha Allen, Chief Executive of the North East and North Cumbria Integrated Care Board
Second panel, from 3.30pm
For the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC):
- Gillian Keegan MP, Minister of State for Care and Mental Health
- Zoe Seager PhD, Deputy Director for Mental Health Policy, Strategy and Delivery
For the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra):
- The Rt Hon Lord Benyon, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, Minister for Rural Affairs, access to nature and Biosecurity
- Jonathan Baker, Deputy Director, Future Farming and Countryside Programme
Background
The EFRA inquiry into rural mental health was launched because of the difficulties in accessing mental health care provision in rural and remote communities. Farming and other agriculture-related professions are known to face particular mental health challenges.
Further information
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