A COMMITTEE has held its latest discussion on rural mental health and a Cumbrian MP has said that one of the major causes in this area is anxiety about shock events such as flooding.

The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee is holding an inquiry into lack of support and provision for mental health in rural areas and will present its findings to Government.

The latest session of the parliamentary committee heard evidence from experts in the Samaritans, DPJ Foundation and the public health network.

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Committee chairman, Sir Robert Goodwill said: “There are concerns that agricultural workers and veterinary workers have an elevated risk of suicide but the evidence is unclear. What is your view of the evidence in this area?”

Jacqui Morrissey, assistant director of research and influencing at Samaritans said: “Its important to say that suicide is complex, it’s rarely due to a single factor.

“It’s usually the result of a combination of psychological, social, cultural, environmental factors and our knowledge around the risk of suicide in agricultural workers and veterinary workers comes largely from data provided by the ONS and academic research.”

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Recent data shows there is an elevated risk for people in the sector but the risk is not the same across all occupations.

“We know, between 2007 and 2013, there were 813 people working in agriculture who lost their lives to suicide in England and Wales.”

Ms Morrissey said Samaritans are hoping for more recent data but “this is actually about real people, this is somebody’s brother, somebody’s friend and I think we know enough already to know we should be taking action to prevent suicide.”

Dr Neil Hudson, MP for Penrith and the Borders said: “Cumbria unfortunately is at the forefront of some of these extreme events whether its flooding, storms but also infectious disease outbreaks in animals.

“What plans do you have in place to deal with some of these shock events that can occur in rural communities?”

Mr Hudson said: “These events can really impact rural communities that potentially give rise to additional needs.

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Dr Tim Sanders, clinical lecturer in rural mental health said animal husbandry comes with a heavy burden of responsibility.

“I really don’t think that’s well understood, the impact of the loss of a flock, it isn’t just the loss of money, that’s a secondary concern. The loss of a flock is a very devastating moral affront, it’s felt very keenly with a lasting impact.

“I remember one of my community who diligently moved a flock to a field out of the reach of flood waters only to find that they’d lose that entire flock when the flooding came.”

Dr Sanders said there is a lack of resource but: “Ultimately the community responds and we respond.”

“How we respond is by doing what any close-knit community does, we try and pull together.”