DEVON'S farming and rural community will gain long-term benefits from the work of a specialist NHS health team, which has supported farmers through the foot and mouth crisis over the past year, says the Devon Partnership NHS Trust.
From next month, the work of the two-person Farmer Advice and Support Team will be integrated with the local Community Mental Health Services.
For the first time, each team in mid Devon will have a nominated professional mental health worker with a special interest in farming and rural communities and this will be extended to North Devon.
Before foot and mouth and the trust's launch of the FAST team to specialise in supporting the farming community, referrals to the mental health teams were shared.
Now they will go to one person with special interest in rural support.
The FAST team has worked with more than 180 clients over the past year, with the caseload now trailing off as the effects of foot and mouth begin to recede.
The two health workers will continue to work with their current clients until they no longer need support, says the trust.
GPs will be able to refer patients to the new specialist mental health workers.