National Rural Mental Health Forum Seminar

The National Rural Mental Health Forum, run by the mental health charity Change Mental Health, continues its online seminars tackling some of the pressing issues in rural communities.

On the 28^th of February at 11am, the Forum shall hear from Robert Gordon University on the prevalence of gender-based violence in remote, rural and island communities. There shall be opportunities to engage with this research and consider actions needed.

AGENDA

11am - Welcome and Introductions

11:05am - Sarah Pedersen and Natascha Mueller-Hirth, Robert Gordon University

Gender-Based Violence in Remote, Rural and Island Communities – Despite the fact that one-fifth of the Scottish population lives in remote, rural and island communities, there has been limited research into the impact of Gender-Based Violence in these areas. The challenges faced by victims of such abuse were further heightened by COVID-19 and the associated lockdowns, which typically led to abusers spending more time with their victim-survivors. Stress factors such as having to work from home, concerns about health and money, and having to homeschool children, all meant that tensions were heightened during the pandemic. At the same time, lockdown conditions were used by abusers to intensify or conceal their violence. Researchers from RGU will discuss the findings of their study investigating the impact of the COVID pandemic on partnerships between the police and third-sector gender-based violence service providers in rural, remote and island communities in Scotland. The project was funded by the Scottish Institute for Policing Research in partnership with Police Scotland and outputs include a short film, which will be shown during the event.

12:05 Perennial, Emily Currie, Manager Health Prevention

Introducing Perennial, the only occupational charity for those who work in horticulture (by that we mean anyone working with plants, trees, grass or flowers). We’ll look at what we do, who we support, the challenges we face including the results of our 2021 industry-wide survey, and what solutions we hope we can offer. We’re no experts but we hope to offer insight into the lives of people who work in horticulture and how best to help them.

1255pm - Any other competent business and date of next meeting

1pm Close