22
Accepted
Rural communities receive minimal NHS mental health support during and after crisis events.
Conclusion
Crisis events can have short- and long-term effects on people’s mental health, but civil society groups told us NHS support is minimal or short-term, despite greater support being likely to help people deal more successfully with trauma. Rural health providers suggested only limited local planning takes place with no extra resources being available, while NHS England suggested more funding could be made available. An ICS told us much work is underway to plan for crisis events. NHS England was focused on the “clinical” response with ICSs leading “on the ground” and expected to make best use of “tools” provided by the Government.
Government Response Summary
The government outlined existing guidance, partnerships with charities, and multi-agency coordination through Local Resilience Forums for mental health support during emergencies. It stated there are no plans for a dedicated funding stream for rural mental health needs, though Defra and DHSC recognise the need for close planning and provision of support.
Paragraph Reference
154
Government Response
Accepted
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Defra contributed to the UK Health Security Agency’s published guidance on providing advice about the impacts of being flooded on people’s mental health: • Flooding health advice: mental health - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk), • Flooding and health: assessment and management of public mental health - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Environment Agency (an executive non-departmental public body, sponsored by Defra) works with independent charitable organisations such as National Flood Forum – A charity to help, support and represent people at risk of flooding. Local mental health care providers and the Voluntary and Community Sector will work with Local Resilience Forums as part of a multi-agency partnership to co-ordinate a response to a major incident and will provide the necessary mental health support to communities impacted by an emergency. Although there are no plans to establish a dedicated funding stream for rural communities’ mental health need during and after crisis events, Defra and DHSC recognise the need to work closely together and with others to ensure that this support is carefully planned for and provided.
Timeline
Recommendation age
3.0 yrs
Report published
18 May 2023