{"id":2713,"date":"2026-08-03T08:36:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-03T08:36:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/doctoralcollege\/?p=2713"},"modified":"2026-08-03T09:05:29","modified_gmt":"2026-08-03T09:05:29","slug":"creating-rural-and-remote-health-rare-network","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sites.exeter.ac.uk\/doctoralcollege\/2026\/08\/03\/creating-rural-and-remote-health-rare-network\/","title":{"rendered":"Creating the Rural And Remote hEalth (RARE) network"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dr Sam Trethewey<\/a> is a first-year clinical PhD student, within the Children and Young People\u2019s Mental Health research collaboration (ChYMe) at the University of Exeter.  His research is supported by the Wellcome Trust-funded GW4-CAT PhD Programme for Health Professionals and focusses on the impact of rurality and deprivation on the mental health of young people. Below, he reflects on designing and delivering a Rural And Remote hEalth (RARE) network event, supported by a Researcher-led Initiative (RLI) award.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On 9 June 2026, in collaboration with senior academics across the University of Exeter, I had the privilege of bringing together researchers, clinicians, public health professionals and community partners for the first Rural And Remote hEalth (RARE) network event. The aim was simple: create space for interdisciplinary networking and provide professional development opportunities for PGRs and ECRs, focusing on rural health, and begin shaping the future direction of the RARE network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Background<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The idea for RARE grew from my work as a public health doctor and rural mental health researcher. Over time, it became clear that many people across academia, healthcare and public services were interested in rural health, but opportunities to connect across disciplines were relatively limited. Working with colleagues from across the University, we secured funding to support a professional development and networking event focused on this important area.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The timing feels particularly important. While the challenges facing rural communities are not new, there is growing national interest in understanding and addressing rural health inequalities. This creates an opportunity to develop stronger collaborations, generate new research and ensure that the needs of rural populations are better represented in policy and service design.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The day featured a mix of plenary talks, workshops and lightning presentations covering a wide range of topics. Speakers explored fundamental questions about what “rurality” means and how it influences health outcomes. Discussions highlighted the complexity of defining rural deprivation and understanding how geography, services and local contexts shape health and wellbeing. We also heard valuable insights from primary care, public health and local government perspectives on the challenges of delivering equitable services in rural settings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mental health emerged as a recurring theme throughout the event. Presentations explored efforts to improve access to mental healthcare in rural and coastal communities, alongside research examining the wellbeing of women in farming communities. We also learned about innovative initiatives designed to reach groups who may struggle to engage with traditional healthcare services, including preventive healthcare delivered directly within livestock markets. These examples demonstrated the importance of adapting services to rural realities rather than expecting rural residents to fit urban models of care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Workshops<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Photo
Participants in a workshop run by the Rural And Remote hEalth (RARE) network<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

One of the most valuable parts of the day was the workshop discussions. Participants shared experiences of building interdisciplinary networks and reflected on the factors that help collaborations succeed. Common themes included the importance of having a clear purpose, investing in relationships, valuing different forms of expertise and creating opportunities for meaningful engagement. At the same time, participants recognised practical barriers such as time, funding and organisational support.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When discussing priority issues for rural health research, several challenges consistently surfaced. These included geographical isolation, poor transport links, digital exclusion, housing affordability, limited employment opportunities and difficulties accessing healthcare services. Participants also highlighted concerns around loneliness, mental health, chronic disease management and the needs of ageing populations. Importantly, discussions reinforced the fact that there is no single rural experience, and that solutions must account for the diversity of rural communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The \u2018rural voice\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Perhaps the strongest message from the day was the need for a more coordinated rural voice. While rural places vary significantly, participants agreed that influencing policy requires shared priorities and clear communication. There was enthusiasm for developing a consensus-based rural health strategy that could help articulate key evidence, identify priorities and support engagement with policymakers and health system leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A phrase that resonated throughout the event was: “What about rural?”<\/strong> Participants argued that this question should be routinely asked whenever services, policies or innovations are being designed. Too often, rural communities are considered later in the process, if at all. Embedding a rural perspective from the outset could help ensure that future health systems are both equitable and effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Concluding remarks<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The event concluded with a discussion about next steps for the network. Although RARE is still in its early stages, there was clear enthusiasm for maintaining momentum, developing collaborative projects and strengthening links across sectors. For me, the event reinforced the value of bringing people together around shared challenges. The energy in the room suggested that there is both the appetite and the expertise needed to make a meaningful contribution to rural health research, policy and practice in the years ahead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are interested in getting involved or finding out more about the RARE network, please contact RARE-research-network@exeter.ac.uk<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Dr Sam Trethewey is a first-year clinical PhD student, within the Children and Young People\u2019s Mental Health research collaboration (ChYMe) at the University of Exeter.  […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1109,"featured_media":2719,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[31,39,43],"tags":[389,387,171,393,197,391,159],"class_list":["post-2713","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-postgraduate-research","category-rlis","category-workshop","tag-children-and-young-peoples-mental-health","tag-dr-sam-trethewey","tag-faculty-of-health-and-life-sciences","tag-research-network","tag-rli","tag-rural-and-remote-health","tag-workshop"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCreating the Rural And Remote hEalth (RARE) network - 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