National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum
A strong dedicated network driving change to enable rural and island people to be open about their mental health
The National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum is a strong dedicated network of over 260 organisations from third, private and public sectors, with an outreach to over 500,000 people in rural Scotland.
The Forum drives change to enable people in rural and island communities to be more open about their mental health. It creates a solid evidence base for what works to improve people’s lives and develops a programme to influence policymakers to channel resources in ways that bring positive change through a network of rural and island organisations across Scotland.
It’s everyone’s business to tackle mental health. This is why the Forum features in the Scottish Government’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.
The Forum delivers regular seminars in partnership with guest speakers from organisations part of the network to speak about key topics and issues related to mental health and wellbeing across rural and island communities in Scotland.
People in rural Scotland are likely to experience depression, suicidal thoughts and feelings, self-harming behaviour and anxiety – no matter their age, gender or location. They might become isolated, worsened by remoteness, stigma and fear.
There needs to be connection before a mental health crisis occurs, particularly in low-level, local and non-clinical settings with shorter waiting times and mobile outreach to all parts of Scotland, which is crucial to prevention.
Upcoming event
Wednesday 28th May 2025, 11am to 1pm
For the next seminar, we will be looking at Engaging Rural Young People in Health Research with The University of Edinburgh and Generation Scotland, sharing key findings from the latter. They will explore the progress of their Loneliness in the Digital World study, including future opportunities for engaging with young people and organisations. It will also look broadly at engagement barriers and solutions, and the importance of including underrepresented young people in research.
The second part will feature a presentation from BEAT, looking at the prevalence and severity of eating disorders that have dramatically increased in Scotland.
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History of the Forum
In 2017, Change Mental Health and the Rural Policy Centre of Scotland’s Rural College commissioned a survey into rural mental health. The report came about through a shared need. Both organisations recognised a significant gap in their knowledge: a systematic understanding of how people with mental illness experience their day to day lives across rural Scotland.
There was anecdotal evidence accumulated over years of engaging with service users and from knowledge of specific needs for example within the farming community, but did not have a clear picture across the country. In addressing this knowledge gap, a fundamental driver was that this picture had to be created by those who have firsthand experience of mental ill health, from the islands in the north and west, to the mainland areas in the south and east, from more accessible rural communities through to the very remotest parts.
The Forum evolved to the National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum in 2025, working closely with Scottish Government’s Islands Plan.
“The National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum is a network for positive change in Scotland. The Forum is a powerful collaboration of third, private and public sector organisations dedicated to improving mental health support in rural and island Scotland, through building resilience in communities and workplaces, raising awareness and tackling stigma plus furthering research and informing policy.
“It is committed to ensuring people are supported at the earliest opportunity no matter where they live in Scotland, so that no one faces mental illness alone.”
Jim Hume
Director of Public Affairs and Communications
Change Mental Health
contact
Want to find out more about the National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum?
Contact the Forum team today.
If you are interested in mental health training for rural organisations and want to know when the next Rural Connections mental health training will occur, please contact our Training team. They can give you more information and answer any questions you may have about online or face-to-face training.
Do you have any questions about the support Change Mental Health delivers across communities in Scotland? Contact our Advice and Support Service.
