National Rural Mental Health Forum

11 am – Welcome and Introductions

1105 am - A new National Islands Plan for Scotland – What priorities for mental health support? Francesco Bertoldi, Scottish Government

Scotland’s first ever National Islands Plan was published in December 2019. A statutory document under the Islands (Scotland) Act 2018, the Plan seeks to improve outcomes for island communities by coordinating the delivery of policies and investments aimed at tackling island communities’ challenges and supporting their ambitions. It features 13 strategic objectives and over 130 commitments.

The Plan has undergone a comprehensive review, including a public consultation that offered everyone with an interest in Scotland's islands the opportunity to contribute their views. Responding to the results of the review, Scottish Ministers have announced that a new Plan will be published later in 2025.

The Scottish Government’s Islands Team is carrying out community and stakeholder engagements to inform the development of the new Plan. Francesco Bertoldi – National Islands Plan Team Leader – will join the Forum to offer an update on the work currently underway and seek views on what tangible initiatives the Plan could propose in support of improved mental health and wellbeing among island communities.

This session offers an opportunity to learn more about the proposed priorities and themes for the new Plan, allowing you to share your thoughts and shape its content.

12 noon - Rural Health Equity: Rural communities together, Lesley McKee.

Rural Health Equity is a three-year UKRI funded project which aims to examine health inequalities in rural Highland areas and maximise the use of existing community assets, such as museums, archive centres, libraries, heritage and natural sites to promote health and well-being. Rural Health Equity is a collaborative project led by Dr Sara Bradley (based in the Highlands) from the University of South Wales in partnership with Museums and Heritage Highland, High Life Highland, NHS Highland and Change Mental Health together with researchers from the University of the Highlands and Islands and Dundee University

The project will add to evidence on co-production, community engagement, service design and the value of community assets as well as offer new insights for rural policy. It is an opportunity to research rural health inequalities, which often remain hidden, and to highlight the importance of community-based resources like museums to rural areas

The project team will employ a co-production approach; working with local heritage organisations and rural communities across the Highlands to map community assets, co-design new opportunities for service provision and explore the integration of social prescribing with mainstream healthcare.

On conclusion local communities and heritage organisations will share their learning through the production of a transferrable toolkit, designed to support rural communities, service planners and policy makers.

12:55 pm – Any Other Business and Date of Next Meeting

1pm - Close