Out of Hours Care for Mental Health & Substance Issues in Rural Areas

Acute Response to emergency Mental Health and Substance use (ARMHS) Research Network event - 29 September 2026 The Acute Response to emergency Mental Health and Substance use (ARMHS) Research Network was set up in 2025 and is a jointly chaired network across University of Edinburgh, NHS Lothian and University of Worcester. The aims of this interdisciplinary network are to: • share knowledge and research, • create a common voice to advocate for emergency responses as a priority area for research and public health policy, • create multidisciplinary collaborations for grant applications, and • produce academic outputs. This in-person event is being delivered jointly with the THRIVE research programme. This is a programme of research which aims to grow mental health research across Herefordshire and Worcestershire related to rural mental health in partnership with the Institute for Mental Health at University of Birmingham and Community Power. This event will comprise of short presentations, discussion and a change to network in relation to the topic of "out of hours" mental health and substance use within rural contexts. We aim to approach this from a multi-agency perspective including mental health, emergency department, police ambulance, primary care, social work, peer support and voluntary sector. We welcome commissioners, policy makers, practitioners, people with lived experience and researchers. The event will be held at the University of Worcester and this is accessible by rail, road and bus. If you have any additional accessibility requirements please get in touch - [email protected]. The day will run from 10 until 4pm (with refreshments and lunch provided). Space will be limited so please do book early to secure your place.