National Rural Mental Health Forum Seminar

For 50 years, the mission of 'Change Mental Health' has remained the same: to help and support people affected by mental illness.

This registered charity places people at the heart of what they do, provide transformational services, and work in and as part of communities across Scotland. They are driven by the lived experiences of the people they support and work with. Join in to make change for the greater good, to change society, to ensure a better quality of life, and to build a future where no one needs to face mental illness alone.

Come along to the National Rural Mental Health Forum Seminar and help discuss what can be done regarding tackling inequalities in rural Scotland. Input into tackling suicide prevention with the Government’s suicide prevention strategy and action plan, the Time Space and Compassion work to improve suicide crisis response and address self-harm in rural Scotland.

11am Welcome and Introductions, Convener Jim Hume.

11:05 Scottish Government, Mental Health, Suicide Prevention & Self Harm. Amy McCluskie, Hilary Third

1. Creating Hope Together – Scotland’s new Suicide Prevention Strategy and Action Plan: Morag Williamson - Highlight the new strategy’s approach and priorities and update on progress with implementation. There will also be time to talk about ways the Forum can make a contribution and be involved going forward.

2. Time Space and Compassion in suicidal crisis response: Linda Hunter – Building on attendance at the January meeting, an update on the latest work on Time Space Compassion and an invitation to share experience and expertise on what it means and takes to offer Time Space Compassion in rural settings and communities.

3. Improving our responses to people who self-harm: Amy McLuskie - Overview of the ongoing work to develop our first dedicated self-harm strategy and action plan. We are keen to invite the Forum to provide feedback and to begin discussions on the implementation of the action plan, with particular focus on the issues and opportunities in rural areas that we are keen to understand.

12 noon, Ruth Ibegbuna, Northern Soul - Tackling Equality in Rural Scotland

12:55, Actions, Date of next meeting Royal Highland Show, 22nd to 25th June 2023. Ingliston, Edinburgh EH28 8NB