The RURAL MENTAL HEALTH (RMH) project will aim to redress the imbalance and inequality between mental health care provision in rural areas compared to urban ones. Considering that those suffering from mental health disorders in rural areas are substantially more likely to commit suicide than their urban counterparts, it is crucial that awareness of mental health issues is raised across rural communities; increased and improved mental health care provision is made available; and stigmatization around these issues is reduced. In this context, the project will develop informational, contextual and background information on mental health issues in rural areas and the need for basic care provision via a number of different community-led avenues. It will also develop training modules on basic care provision, in a bid to help rural educators, volunteers, employers and other actors to at least understand the incidence of mental health disorders better and be able to identify them, and reach out to those involved. The target users of these materials will therefore be those involved in working with vulnerable teenagers, farming advisors and agricultural educators, employers, and job counsellors to name but a few. Other open educational resources developed by the project will include a checklist to identify concerns; a promotion video attempting to reduce stigmatization; and an information pack aimed directly at end-users and vulnerable groups in rural areas to help them seek help for themselves or others. The combination of these elements should help a two-pronged approach to a sensitive issue, by addressing the target group directly but also via trusted community leaders. Ultimately, this project aims to improve the quality of life for those suffering from mental health issues in rural areas, improve awareness and prevention of serious mental health issue occurrences, and, fundamentally, reduce the suicide rate in rural areas across Europe, particularly of disadvantaged youth and rural workers including farmers.
In response, this project on RURAL MENTAL HEALTH developed an accessible online platform with training, guidance, advice and educational materials aimed at a variety of targets in rural areas including social services, schools, youth clubs and other social clubs; rural workers; farmers and more. The materials include information on how to self-identify mental health issues in individuals living in rural areas and when to seek professional help, as well as promoting and guiding potential community-based services in this area. The project also developed and disseminated informational material to raise awareness of issues surrounding mental health (e.g. first signs, who to turn to, that you’re not alone) but also in an attempt to combat the stigma and social exclusion surrounding issues of mental health, particularly communities which are: younger, older, more remote, poorer, farmer, immigrants, refugees, etc.
Those suffering from mental health issues in rural areas are in significant need of help. Rural actors with little access to mental healthcare provision are substantially more likely to commit suicide than those living in urban areas, and this is even more so the case for those suffering from socio-economic disadvantages, learning disabilities and those in remote areas far away from service provision. There is also a considerably higher level of stigmatization around accessing mental health care services in rural areas compared to urban ones, a serious challenge which needs to be tackled in order to bring down the number of suicides in rural areas. As well as being crucial for individuals, good mental health is also important for society at large. An additional need for mental health services in rural areas has also been identified, particularly in relation to those living in the most remote areas of Europe, where service provision is low and stigma around mental health is high. Those suffering from mental health issues in rural areas across Europe should have just as equal access to mental health services but also community-based and socially inclusive healthcare available to them.