Mental Health from a Rural Perspective: Inspiration, Challenges and Opportunities

On 5 December, the Support Office for Life Science & Health (SOLH) organised the webinar “Mental Health from a Rural Perspective – Inspiration, Challenges and Opportunities”. The event brought together researchers, practitioners and public-sector representatives to explore mental health in rural contexts, with a particular focus on current research, practical interventions, and emerging initiatives.

The programme featured speakers presenting ongoing efforts, structural challenges and innovative approaches being tested and implemented across northern Sweden. The format also allowed space for questions, short discussions and networking, enabling participants to exchange perspectives and establish new professional connections. A follow-up session is planned at a later stage to further explore potential project ideas, partnerships and funding opportunities within this thematic area. The event was held in Swedish.

Arts on Prescription as a Key Collaborative Contribution

A central part of the programme was the presentation of the Arts on Prescription in the Baltic Sea Region project, delivered by representatives from Region Norrbotten and Sunderby Folk High School. The session highlighted Kultur på Recept / Arts on Prescription as a cross-sectoral collaboration between healthcare and the cultural sector, demonstrating how arts-based interventions can contribute to mental health promotion and prevention, particularly in rural and sparsely populated areas.

Through this contribution, the AoP project shared concrete experiences from implementation, governance and inter-organisational cooperation. The presentation also created a platform for mutual learning, as it was contextualised within broader discussions on rural psychology, neuropsychology, suicide prevention and ethical challenges specific to remote regions.

Transfer of Knowledge for the Continued Development of AoP in Sweden

Beyond showcasing regional practice, the AoP project played an important role in the transfer of key project content and insights relevant for the continued development and scaling of Arts on Prescription in Sweden. By situating AoP within a wider mental health and rural development discourse, the webinar facilitated the translation of project results into a Swedish policy and practice context.

Participants gained new perspectives on how arts-based health interventions can be adapted to rural conditions, integrated into existing healthcare structures and sustained over time. The exchange of experiences and challenges contributed to identifying both opportunities and barriers for future implementation, strengthening the foundation for continued AoP initiatives in Sweden.

Overall, the webinar underscored the value of cross-regional and cross-sector collaboration and confirmed Arts on Prescription as a relevant and transferable model for addressing mental health challenges in rural settings.

Programme Manual Online

Choose