The Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee will discuss suicide prevention and the NHS in rural areas at a public evidence session with charities, public health professionals and NHS representatives at 2.30 PM on Tuesday 21 June in Committee Room 6 of the House of Commons.
The session is part of the Committee’s Rural Mental Health Inquiry which is looking into the specific mental health challenges faced by people living and working in rural communities.
The session’s first panel, with representatives from the voluntary and public health sectors, will look at suicide amongst agricultural and veterinary workers, practical approaches to suicide prevention, and national and local policy on suicide prevention.
The second panel will explore how the local NHS plans and delivers mental health services for rural communities, as well as any challenges around funding and the provision of access to appropriate services.
Dr Neil Hudson MP for Penrith and The Border, and Member of the EFRA Committee said:
“Our cross party EFRA Committee Inquiry on Rural Mental Health continues this week. This is such an important subject area. As a rural MP, I feel so strongly about it that I instigated this Inquiry with our Committee. Rural areas face immense and often unique pressures and it is hoped that our Inquiry will shine a light on these issues and allow us to make recommendations to Government to support our rural communities.”
Panel 1 – Suicide prevention (from 2.30 PM)
· Jacqui Morrissey, Assistant Director for Samaritans’ Research and Influencing work – Founded in 1953, Samaritans provides emotional support to anyone struggling to cope.
· Kate Miles, Charity Manager of the DPJ Foundation - Welsh mental health charity supporting those in agriculture and rural communities with mental health problems.
· Professor Jim McManus, President of the UK Association of Directors of Public Health and Executive Director of Public Health for Hertfordshire County Council.
Panel 2 – The NHS in rural areas (from c. 3.30 PM)
· Dr Tim Sanders, representing the Royal College of General Practitioners.
· Dr Jaspreet Phull, Acting Medical Director at Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust (LPFT).
· Sarah Connery, Chief Executive of Lincolnshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust.
This public evidence session will also be available to view on parliamentlive.tv
