Rural mental health in Wales

In Wales almost a million people, over one third of the population, from a full range of diverse backgrounds, live in rural areas. As in urban areas, one in four of these people will at some time live with mental health problems.

Whilst there are many positive aspects to living with mental health problems in rural areas there are also difficulties. Issues such as poverty, poor housing, lack of transport, isolation, access to information, services and support, lack of choice, few opportunities and stigma can have a greater impact on people where they are hidden in small pockets amongst relative affluence.

As well as impacting on the person living with mental health problems these issues also affect carers, family and friends. Those who provide services from all sectors have to deal with the complexities caused by sparsity, distance, time and effort to provide and sustain equitable services.

There is a great deal of good work being done across Wales to meet the needs of people living with mental health problems in rural areas but far more needs to be done. 

In large parts of rural Wales there is very little help available to assist people to live with good mental health.

Mind Cymru - in collaboration with local Mind associations, Rural Minds and other organisations - are working to address these problems by raising awareness and influencing policy and decision makers at various levels to remember the third of the nation’s population that live in the countryside.