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Rural mental health in Scotland: Cost of living survey

  • Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
  • Type: News Item
  • Published: 11th August 2023
Logo with the words Change Mental Health

Share your experiences to help inform the Scottish Government on what next steps are required to tackle the cost-of-living crisis.

The National Rural Mental Health Forum, run by the mental health charity Change Mental Health, aims to inform the Scottish Government how the cost-of-living crisis is impacting the mental health of people who live in remote and rural Scotland.

98% of Scotland’s land mass is rural, with around 1 million people living there. For many, living in rural Scotland has often meant experiencing considerably higher costs of living. A report by the Scottish Government in 2021 estimated that the minimum cost of living in remote rural Scotland was between 15% and 30% higher than urban areas. In rural communities, the rates of people living in fuel poverty, including extreme fuel poverty, tend to be higher than urban areas. Energy prices are often greater, houses less energy-efficient, and in some cases don’t have access to mains gas, instead relying on oil, coal, or electrical methods. Scotland’s lowest wage economies are in rural and remote areas, such as Dumfries and Galloway, Moray, and the Scottish Borders. Weekly food shops are often being higher in price because of the reliance on local and usually independent stores who face increased delivery costs.

Change Mental Health are aware there is a clear correlation between poor mental health and money struggles. Experiencing financial problems can negatively impact a person’s mental health and cause stress, anxiety and depression. With Scotland’s rural communities already experiencing increased costs due to where they live, along with rural infrastructure issues, the ongoing cost-of-living crisis is exacerbating this financial stress.

Change Mental Health is inviting people who live in Scotland’s rural and remote communities to complete a survey on mental health and the cost-of-living crisis. Your experiences and insights are crucial to help inform the Scottish Government on what next steps are required to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and ensure rural communities are receiving the appropriate support. Take part in the survey and learn more about Change Mental Health’s National Rural Mental Health Forum.

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