The University of Exeter is hosting an event, this September, to discuss the threat of a looming mental health crisis among rural communities.

At this joint event between the University of Exeter and the Campaign for Social Science, experts will discuss how to build resilience in rural communities and whether or not there is a looming mental health crisis.

Amid a steep rise in mental health problems within rural parts of the country, the event’s panel of experts will unpack the challenges facing farming and rural communities and identify any potential policy solutions.

Mental health is now more important than ever, with healthy farming communities needed for the UK to build resilient food systems which can cope with the demands of a changing climate and technological innovation.

Discussing these challenges will be a panel of experts chaired by Minette Batters who is a farmer and former President of the National Farmers’ Union.

To attend the event, register here. Alternatively, you can email CRPR@exeter.ac.uk.

Batters will be joined by other experts including Professor Matt Lobley and Dr Rebecca Wheeler, from the University of Exeter’s Centre for Rural Policy, along with local Dartmoor farmer Christine Malseed.

Following the panel discussion, there will be an audience Q&A session and a networking drinks reception.

The event, titled ‘Building resilient rural communities’, will be held on Wednesday, September 11, between 7pm - 9:30pm at the University of Exeter’s Amory Building on the Streatham campus.