T3. Mr Donnelly asked the Minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, given that today is World Suicide Prevention Day and evidence suggests that people living in rural areas have higher rates of suicide and there are higher rates of suicide in rurally based occupations such as agriculture, to outline what initiatives have been undertaken to support and improve mental health for people living and working in rural areas. (AQT 503/22-27)

I thank the Member for his important question. The tackling rural poverty and social isolation framework, otherwise known as the "TRPSI framework", has been in operation since 2016. It includes initiatives that address loneliness and improve physical and mental health and well-being. The farm families health checks programme, in conjunction with the Public Health Agency and the Northern Health and Social Care Trust, provides a comprehensive physical and mental health screening and advice service to farmers who visit livestock markets and rural people who attend a range of community events across Northern Ireland that the screening vehicle attends annually. Where necessary, referrals are then made to general practitioners or appropriate support services.

Further to that initiative, Rural Support, a charity that is also funded through the TRPSI programme, has commenced a go-to resource for farmers and their families in rural Northern Ireland when they have a personal and/or farm business-related crisis. Rural Support provides a range of programmes and services for farmers and farm family members in support of their farm business and personal well-being. Its objective is to reduce emotional distress and help alleviate poor mental health triggers, which it can measure through use of the well-established Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale, with onward referrals being made to the appropriate support services as required.

My Department also has a long-standing funding relationship with the Young Farmers' Clubs of Ulster through which it promotes good health and well-being for young people in rural areas of Northern Ireland.

Finally, the College of Agriculture, Food and Rural Enterprise (CAFRE) provides a student support service that is accessible to all learners and includes a focus on health and well-being.

Thank you for your answer, Minister. I am sure that the Minister will agree that the rates are far too high, even though the work is ongoing, and I am glad to hear that it is. Will he join me in encouraging people who are experiencing suicidal thoughts to reach out to someone, be it a GP, Lifeline or the Samaritans?

I will. That is an important issue. Unfortunately, a number of my friends took their own lives. In some cases, that was due to societal attitudes in Northern Ireland towards LGBT people. It is important that we send out a message from this place that you are not alone and that you should reach out and speak to people to seek support.