Mental health practitioners demand better rural support from government

The British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) is urging a government overhaul of mental health support for rural areas, as a new report reveals that existing provisions are neglecting struggling countryside communities.

BACP’s report shows that despite rural communities facing a unique set of complex daily challenges, the NHS and mental health services are unable to provide the required level of support.

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It says that financial stress and the cost of living crisis are compounding pre-existing hardships such as loneliness and isolation, and pushing rural people to breaking point.

Dr Lisa Morrison Coulthard, director of professional standards, policy, and research at BACP, said:

“Farmers face numerous unique mental health challenges due to closures from disease, bad weather, reduced government support, and post-Brexit funding issues.

“Rising input costs worsen their situation and government is often perceived as lacking understanding of external market forces and their effect on the farming sector – which fuels the belief that farmers are being neglected.”

Dr Morrison Coulthard also highlights that funding allocated for mental health provisions in rural communities is lower than in urban areas.

“The current government funding support available for rural areas is much lower per head than for their urban counterparts, so public services in these areas suffer and the communities who rely on them are greatly disadvantaged by location,” she said.

“Economic and environmental challenges have meant that access to mental health support in countryside communities is inconsistent and often compounded due to delayed accessing of support until it reaches crisis point.”

The full BACP report has been issued to MPs and key decision makers, and sets out a number of recommendations on how government can best support rural people. 

These include making area-based mental health plans to reflect the specific challenges and profile of rural communities, and improving access to a wider range of psychological therapies.

It also strongly advises that the UK governments must provide appropriate funding for third sector specialist services, which are “plugging the gap” and providing vital support where statutory services are unable to help.