Environment and roads

Rural Wellbeing Workshop

Maintaining Wellbeing in Rural Hertfordshire (March 2004)

'Life in the countryside is not always a bed of roses'

In September 2004 the rural forum, together with the Rural Stress Information Network, hosted a workshop to explore issues associated with the mental health of rural communities.

The event provided the opportunity:

• to exchange information between organisations and local authorities working to support and promote wellbeing in rural communities across the county;
• to understand the difficulties of rural life and;
• to encourage and publicise networks that already exist and identify any gaps

17 delegates representing a wide range of services attended. Following an introduction from the Rural Forum Chair, the Venerable Trevor Jones gave the key note address entitled "Life in the countryside is not always a bed of roses". This was followed by presentations depicting the framework for mental health promotion and the county community strategy which has good mental health at its core. Delegates were treated to a case study from the Royston, Buntingford and Bishop’s Stortford Primary Care Trust who are providing rural health care services to excluded communities. Finally, Thelma Wadlsey (Rural Stress Information Network) spoke about the Rural Stress Action Plan.

The afternoon workshops concentrated on a mapping exercise that aimed to identify the key issues and subsequently identifying relevant services operating in those areas.