Some of the challenges of rural daily life can have a significant impact on people’s mental wellbeing. The UK Government needs to address these, including through its various funding routes for levelling-up; but without more detail we cannot evaluate the difference it will make. On upgrading transport infrastructure and digital connectivity the Government appears to be investing significant resources and making progress which may potentially improve rural communities’ wellbeing and access to mental health services. But it needs to move much faster to push forward the new rural transport strategy, to deliver real change, so that ‘demand response’ bus services are embedded and sustainably financed, and to join-up rural public transport with local health planning. We also hope it will tackle the shortfall in rural digital infrastructure; but until then, flexibility in NHS digital provision will remain limited for rural communities as will the gap in digital skills unless it is addressed.