National Rural and Islands Mental Health Forum - 25th November 2026

Join an online seminar to explore mental health challenges & support in rural &island communities, to encourage collaboration & innovation.

AGENDA

11am - Welcome and Introductions

11:05am - Battle Scars, Supporting people affected by self-harm in the workplace. Jenny Groves, Battle Scars founder & CEO and Onward Mental Health & Wellbeing Hub manager

Self-harm can affect anyone, at any stage of life, and its impact often reaches into work. Yet most workplaces feel unsure about how to respond. How confident would you feel supporting a colleague, or even a manager, who told you they were affected by self-harm?

Across sectors, organisations are largely unprepared. Formal self-harm policies are rare, and stigma, myths and discomfort create environments where people feel unable to speak openly. For those who use self-harm to manage overwhelming emotions or life circumstances, this can lead to guilt, shame, secrecy and a lack of support when it’s most needed.

How do we create workplaces where people affected by self-harm, directly or as carers, feel safe, understood and supported? And what positive, practical steps can organisations take to build confidence, reduce stigma and strengthen wellbeing across their workforce?

11:35am - NHS Breathing Space - Winter Campaign. Lisa-Jane Dock and Laura McInness of NHS24 share their exciting new seasonal campaign.

NHS 24 is currently preparing for its annual Winter Health Campaign, which aims to support communities across Scotland by promoting health and wellbeing throughout the winter months. As part of this work, we are keen to engage directly with members of the public living in remote and rural areas.

Key campaign messages include:

• Using NHS inform and the NHS 24 Online app symptom checkers to help individuals make informed decisions about their care when they become unwell.

• Planning ahead by checking repeat prescriptions and ordering medication in good time.

• Keeping a small supply of medicines at home to manage common winter illnesses.

• Raising awareness of seasonal changes to GP practice and pharmacy opening hours during the festive period.

12:10 - Andy's Mans Club - Overview of Andy's Mans Club. Alex McClintock - Head of Partnerships - Scotland.

Alex McClintock, after experiencing his own mental health struggles and an attempt on his life, discovered ANDYSMANCLUB. Everything about ANDYSMANCLUB resonated with him and it ignited a passion to help make a difference particularly in men’s mental health. The power of talking has become a huge part of his life and he was honoured and humbled to be asked by Elaine and Luke to join the team, overseeing Scotland. He will continue to do what he can to challenge the stigmas in our society to help reach that one man and to help promote ANDYSMANCLUB every day with passion and commitment

The presentation will provide a closer look at the people behind the group and those who seek its support through videos and slides. Designed to challenge the stigma surrounding Men’s Mental Health and ultimately to save lives, this presentation will show just how important it is for men to have a safe space to speak openly about their troubles.

ANDYSMANCLUB takes its name from Andrew Roberts, a man who sadly took his own life aged 23 in early 2016. Andy’s family had no inkling that he was suffering or struggling to the extent that he would do this, and as a result looked deeper into male suicide and men’s mental health. They soon discovered that male suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50, with Male Mental Health surrounded by well-ingrained cultural stigma in the UK.

In mid-2016, nine men met in a small room in the archetypal Yorkshire town of Halifax with a simple aim of talking through their issues and helping each other deal with their mental health. All in attendance agreed there was magic in that room that had to be shared. This was the start of a movement that has grown faster than anyone first involved could have ever imagined. Fast forward 10 years and ANDYSMANCLUB now has groups at over 350+ locations across England, Scotland and Wales.

12:55pm - Date of Next Meeting, Wednesday 27th January 2027, 11am to 1pm, Online via Zoom.

1pm - Close