Health and wellbeing

Researchers are looking for your views about wellbeing, local issues and quality of life in Scottish communities.

Social scientists at the James Hutton Institute and Scotland's Rural College are carrying out an online survey as part of a drive to improve currently-available data and inform policy development and implementation. 

The survey covers the following topics:

A new Highlands and Islands Ecosystem for rural mental health and active ageing was launched in Inverness recently.

The event, organised by the Scottish Rural Health Partnership, took place at An Lochran on 26 November 2018 and gathered together people and organisations with interested in improving rural mental health and wellbeing and active ageing in the region.

The charity Paths for All has created a new award to encourage everyday walking in the workplace.

The Walk at Work Award will reward employers across Scotland who are encouraging their workforce to be more active. Active meetings, lunchtime walks, standing desks and promoting ways to get to work on foot will all count towards the award.

Last week the Scottish Rural Network (SRN) hosted a visit from a group of 10 Danish Local Action Group (LAG) members from the Jammerbugt-Vesthimmerland region who wanted to visit LEADER funded projects in Scotland. They were specifically interested in the food development and sustainable growth fields and wanted an insight into projects that have been successful in this area, in particular any challenges they have faced/overcome and any learning or networking they could glean from this experience.

Evidence showing that being in nature is good for the body and soul has led to the launch of a new partnership to make the most of environmental assets in improving health in North and South Lanarkshire.  The Lanarkshire Green Health Partnership was launched on Monday 10th September at Clydesdale Community Initiatives (CCI).

Scotland’s farm safety record is of a considerably lower standard in comparison with the rest of the UK. To bring Scotland up to par, the Farm Safety Partnership Scotland (FSPS) has launched a new initiative in an effort to encourage farmers and crofters to prioritise their safety.

The 2018 Scottish Rural Parliament will take place in Stranraer in Dumfries and Galloway on 14th– 16th November. If you live in or are passionate about rural areas in Scotland, you can attend to learn and make your voice heard. This year's theme is "Taking Action".

The event brings together people from rural communities with decision-makers, for three days of celebration and exploration. Participants examine a wide-range of issues affecting rural communities and make recommendations for change.

A new report released by national mental health charity Support in Mind Scotland and the National Rural Mental Health Forum has highlighted the importance of safe places for people to engage and feel part of the community.

The report entitled “Well Connected Communities" is the result of research undertaken in Dumfries and Galloway, West Lothian, Ayrshire, Argyll & Bute and the Western Isles, to look at a community approach to mental health and wellbeing.

A survey about mental health and well-connected communities in rural Scotland is currently underway.

The Well Connected Communities survey is being carried out by Support in Mind and follows on from research in 2016 carried out by Support in Mind and Scotland's Rural College where people with mental ill health told them what it was like to live in rural areas.

They said they need a supportive community and highlighted the importance of being able to connect in 'low-level', non-clinical ways, ideally close to where they live.