Aphra Brandreth MP has held her first Adjournment Debate on the subject of mental health in rural and agricultural communities.
The Member of Parliament spoke about the prevalence of mental health issues in rural and agricultural communities, why it is disproportionately worse compared to the rest of the country and shared some stories of tragic instances that led her to call for this debate.
Aphra Brandreth MP asked three things from the Minister. The first, an integrated approach. This would allow for a joined-up, cross-government approach to tackling the mental health crisis in rural areas. Secondly, she asked for a specific strategy on young people's mental health in the agricultural community asking the Minister replying, Daniel Zeichner MP, to agree to meet with her and a delegation of Cheshire Young Farmers to hear firsthand as to why this is needed. Finally, she summed up her remarks by asking for the Minister to commit to putting farmers at the centre of agricultural policy. She spoke of the contribution and value of farmers to rural areas and the country and stressed the need to create policy that supports their work rather than impeding it.
