AN INQUIRY into rural mental health issues will continue as front-line practitioners dealing with relevant issues are welcomed.

The environment, food and rural affairs committee (EFRA) will continue their inquiry at a public evidence session at 2:30 pm today (May 24).

The rural mental health inquiry is looking into the specific mental health challenges faced by those living and working in rural communities.  

This third evidence session in the inquiry will question witnesses who support the mental well-being of farmers and the wider rural community in a variety of ways.

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and The Border and member of the EFRA committee, said: “Our cross-party EFRA Committee on which I sit is continuing with the inquiry on rural mental health that I triggered.

“In this session, we will be looking how professionals in the front line support people in rural areas who face a combination of unique issues that put pressure on them.

“This is a tough but important inquiry that we hope will shine a spotlight on this area and provide recommendations to improve people’s lives in our rural communities.”

The healthcare issues facing rural areas in Cumbria, in particular within the constituency Dr Hudson represents, are not limited to mental health, but also to emergency healthcare.

Alston, a rural village in his constituency, has been faced with the possible removal of an ambulance from their village, which if it were to be removed would mean the nearest place where an ambulance can be dispatched from is Carlisle, taking almost an hour to get there if there was a life-or-death emergency.

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The witnesses are split into two panels.

Panel one, on support for rural communities, is made up of:

  • Danny Hutchinson, CEO of Invictus Wellbeing.
  • Janette Smeeton, CEO of Derwent Rural Counselling Service.
  • Carol Stockman from Cotswolds Community Wellbeing Service.

Panel two, on support for the farming community, is made up of:

  • Stephen Dodsworth, from Darlington Farmers Auction Market.
  • Trudy Herniman, from Farmerados.
  • Melinda Raker, founder of You Are Not Alone.

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