Question to the Department of Health and Social Care:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the provision of mental health services for both adults and children in rural areas.

No national assessment has been made as it is for individual local integrated care boards to decide on the provision of mental health services to meet the needs of adults and children in their rural areas.

Nationally, the Government is committed to creating an environment that promotes good mental health, prevents adults and children from developing mental health problems, and improves the lives of people living with a mental health problem, including those living in rural areas.

The 10-Year Health Plan sets out ambitious plans to transform mental health services to improve access and treatment, and to promote good mental health and wellbeing for the nation. This includes improving assertive outreach, investing in mental health emergency departments and neighbourhood mental health centres, and increasing access to talking therapies and evidence-based digital interventions.

The recently published Medium Term Planning Framework sets targets for integrated care boards to expand coverage of mental health support teams in schools and colleges, expand NHS Talking Therapies and Individual Placement Support schemes, and eliminate inappropriate out-of-area placements by 2029.