"Next week we are taking the same model to help people who might be just over the age of retirement and their socially or rurally isolated, " he said.

BBC: Cornwall's Active Plus set to expand operations

The projects are aimed at tackling mental health problems in rurally isolated areas in unique ways - helping to reduce feelings of isolation that add to stress, anxiety, and depression.

BBC: Help for stressed foot-and-mouth farmers

In China's system of household registration (known as hukou), children born to rurally registered parents count as rural, even if their parents have migrated to the city, and regardless of where they themselves were born.

ECONOMIST: Problems for migrants