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News by Topic: Mental health

Jun 6, 2023 - Psychiatric fellows and residents are addressing the mental health professional shortages in rural Michigan. A Grand Rapids based treatment facility is partnering with mental healthcare clinics in rural Michigan to both train residents and fellows in rural specific mental healthcare issues and also fill a need in mental healthcare shortage areas. It is expected that this training will help reduce the shortages as students are more likely to practice in the places they train.
Source: Second Wave Michigan
Jun 5, 2023 - Highlights a rural Ohio high school's effort to address student mental health. Peers Uplifting Peers is a student-led group working to address mental health and stigma around mental health. Students are trained in mental health first aid and handling therapy dogs. Discusses barriers to access mental healthcare in rural areas and rural schools in particular. Subscription may be required to read article.
Source: Education Week
Jun 5, 2023 - Highlights the importance of familial support for the health of transgender adults. Notes 47% of rural transgender adults report they do not have family support and more than half of transgender adults live in majority rural states. Lack of family support is associated with suicidal ideation and other chronic health issues. Common barriers to good health in rural locations such as access to healthcare, transportation, and broadband exacerbate the challenges transgender adults face in healthcare.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Jun 2, 2023 - Examines 2021 data from the Ohio Department of Health showing that suicide rates in Ohio are rising after 2 years of decline. 14 of the 15 counties with the highest suicide rates were rural, and 9 of those 14 are in Appalachia. Local behavioral health leaders cite access issues, unreliable broadband hampering telehealth, and multiple social determinants of health as drivers of the increase. Highlights work being done to decrease stigma.
Source: NBC4
Jun 1, 2023 - The Minnesota Pork Board and Minnesota Pork Producers Association have pledged $300,000 to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Of Minnesota Center for Rural Behavioral Health. The funds will help the Center carry out their mission to improve mental healthcare access for rural Minnesota with focus on the agricultural community, an industry known for its high rate of suicide.
Source: Farm Journal's Pork
May 31, 2023 - Describes the experiences of counseling interns working in rural schools. Notes that the students benefit from access to care not usually easily available, but the interns also learn about the specific needs of rural communities. The program will expand in the fall to include telehealth mental healthcare.
Source: Nevada Today
May 25, 2023 - Outlines research showing that art can positively impact a person's health and highlights a community in Wisconsin using art to address mental health for youth. Describes a partnership between a local arts organization, mental health organization, and the health system to advocate for mental health support through art and a skatepark. Notes that a local study found lack access to mental healthcare and initiatives regarding art can be creative attempts to address the lack of access.
Source: National League of Cities
May 22, 2023 - Georgians living in rural communities continue to call into the national suicide prevention hotline at higher rates than other parts of the state as the one-year anniversary of the rollout of 988 approaches. Calls to Georgia's crisis center have increased by about 12%, but a federal estimate projects those calls will double once the new three-digit number is promoted through a marketing campaign, which is coming later.
Source: Chattanooga Times Free Press
May 19, 2023 - The Department of Health and Human Services has awarded over $65 million in funds to implement innovative approaches to improve maternal health outcomes and reduce disparities for patients at highest risk. This will help ensure healthier pregnancy and postpartum outcomes and address health disparities among women of color and women in rural and medically underserved areas.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 18, 2023 - U.S. Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin and Joni Ernst of Iowa led a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the Farmers First Act of 2023, legislation to address the mental health epidemic in rural America and expand access to critical mental health support and resources for agricultural communities.
Source: Office of Senator Tammy Baldwin
May 18, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Education (ED) is proposing a new rule that would streamline Medicaid billing permissions for students with disabilities. The Department of Health and Human Services is approving requests from New Mexico and Oregon to expand health care services that schools can deliver to Medicaid enrolled students.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 17, 2023 - Primary Care Centers of Eastern Kentucky (PCCEK) is a Rural Health Clinic whose services include temporary housing for women confronting substance use disorder. PCCEK offers a wide variety of health services, including dentistry, a diabetes center, a women's health center, radiology and imaging, behavioral health services, a pharmacy, and a hospice care center.
Source: The Daily Yonder
May 16, 2023 - Describes the differing opinions about how opioid settlement money should be used in rural Greene County in northeastern Tennessee. Some feel the money should be used directly for mental health and addiction treatment, while others say the county has for years funded programs to help people harmed by addiction, and settlement money can legitimately be used to pay down debt incurred partly due to those programs.
Source: KFF Health News
May 16, 2023 - Highlights changes and challenges in rural health care access, including hospital closures, transportation issues, lack of obstetric services and mental health services, poor outcomes among Black or Native American populations, and lack of services for veterans.
Source: U.S. Government Accountability Office
May 15, 2023 - A collaborative effort coordinated by MCD Global Health now gives school students and staff in Washington County, Maine access to virtual behavioral health services and other needed resources. A $500,000 matching grant from Point32Health Foundation helped the Baileyville, Maine community get started on the initiative.
Source: The Daily Yonder
May 12, 2023 - The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is allowing an additional 30 days for comments on the information collection request titled "Rapid Response Suicide Investigation Data Collection." This data collection is designed to inform the implementation of suicide prevention strategies in a state, county, community, or vulnerable population where a possible suicide cluster or increasing trend has been observed. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
May 12, 2023 - Since its launch on Mother's Day 2022, the National Maternal Mental Health Hotline's professional counselors have provided emotional support, resources, and referrals to almost 12,000 pregnant and postpartum individuals who struggled with mental health concerns, and their loved ones.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
May 12, 2023 - Highlights the lack of facility schools in rural Colorado. Facility schools provide specialized services for children with disabilities and/or mental health issues. Small population sizes and a shortage of trained teachers and behavioral professionals has led to closures of the few schools that existed. Rural Colorado children in need of their services either do not get them or must travel to other parts of the state to residential facilities.
Source: KFF Health News
May 11, 2023 - Highlights a bill signed by Iowa Governor to address workforce shortages in the state. The bill allows Physician Assistants (PA) to practice without the supervision of a doctor. The goal of the bill is to recruit PAs not just to Iowa generally but to rural clinics in the state. The bill also expands the scope of practice for PAs to include more mental healthcare.
Source: KWWL
May 10, 2023 - Highlights efforts by both the federal government and multiple U.S. states to address youth in crisis, specifically those at risk for suicide. Notes that programs should consider rural youth specifically as the rate of suicide among rural youth have increased 1.5 times faster than urban youth.
Source: The Commonwealth Fund
May 8, 2023 - Notice from the U.S. Census Bureau making corrections to the April 28, 2023, notice seeking comment on proposed revisions to the Household Pulse Survey. The Census Bureau will begin collecting data using the revised survey on or about May 31, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 28, 2023 - The Census Bureau is seeking comment on proposed revisions to the Household Pulse Survey, which helps to inform a range of topics related to households' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Proposed revisions include new detailed race and ethnicity questions, as well as new questions on the use of antivirals to treat COVID, how households obtain COVID tests, the use of infant formula with babies, children's mental health treatment, and pressure to move from current residence. The Census Bureau is also proposing modifications to questions related to children's vaccine booster, COVID testing, infant formula, reasons not working, unemployment insurance, Medicaid, and inflation items. Several questions will be removed for Phase 3.8, including replacing the current race/ethnicity items, and questions about the receipt of updated COVID vaccines, intent to vaccinate children, childcare arrangements, children's mental health and behaviors, and more. Comments are due within 30 days of this notice.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 27, 2023 - Announcement of a needs assessment survey from the Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention to update the National Strategy for Suicide Prevention. Survey is targeted at suicide prevention professionals in the U.S. Deadline for the survey is May 12th, 2023.
Source: Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention
Apr 26, 2023 - Summarizes a study comparing gun death rates between urban and rural communities. Death rates are higher in rural areas which is attributed to an increase in gun suicides. Prevention measures such as safe storage laws, lethal means counseling, and more are discussed.
Source: NBC News
Apr 23, 2023 - Describes a program between the Champaign County Farm Bureau and the Carle Illinois School of Medicine in Urbana to incorporate agriculture specific health and safety issues into the curriculum. Students take field trips to farms and then present on issues and potential solutions. Discusses broadband problems, physical injuries, mental health, and access to healthcare.
Source: Jacksonville Journal-Courier
Apr 21, 2023 - The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration is seeking nominations for 5 non-voting liaison representatives to serve on the subcommittee of the Advisory Committee for Women's Services (ACWS) focused on maternal mental health. SAMHSA will give close attention to equitable geographic distribution of members and give priority to non-profit organizations that operate within the United States and have membership with demonstrated expertise in maternal mental health and related research, clinical services, or advocacy and outreach on issues concerning maternal mental health. Nominations are due May 31, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 19, 2023 - Describes factors surrounding the death of a Wisconsin dairy farmer by suicide and efforts by health professionals and religious leaders to provide help for farmers suffering from depression and anxiety. Discusses higher rates of suicide among farmers compared to the general population. Subscription may be needed to read the entire article.
Source: New York Times
Apr 15, 2023 - Explores the workforce challenges faced by rural school-based counseling services' ability to address mental health issues for rural children in Wisconsin.
Source: Wisconsin Public Radio
Apr 15, 2023 - Highlights a bill in the Oregon State Senate to fund a state suicide helpline for agricultural workers struggling with mental health issues.
Source: Oregon Public Broadcasting
Apr 14, 2023 - Discusses the expansion of a VA program to connect rural veterans to information about VA telehealth and mental health services to Wyoming, Kansas, Louisiana, and Nevada, as well as the initial pilot project state, Montana.
Source: VA News
Apr 10, 2023 - Notice of proposed rule from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) updating the FY 2024 prospective payment rates, outlier threshold, and wage index for Medicare inpatient hospital services provided by inpatient psychiatric facilities (IPF), including psychiatric hospitals and excluded psychiatric units of an acute care hospital or Critical Access Hospital. The proposed rule discusses proposals on quality measures and reporting requirements under the Inpatient Psychiatric Facilities Quality Reporting (IPFQR) Program, with proposed changes beginning with the FY 2024 payment determination through changes beginning with the FY 2028 payment determination. Comments are due by June 5, 2023.
Source: Federal Register
Apr 10, 2023 - Early in the pandemic the Center for Rural Health at the University of Arizona created a platform to provide up-to-date information to rural healthcare providers on COVID-19 protocols. It has been updated to provide additional information, such as mental health best practices, healthy aging tips, and updates on the newest strains of COVID-19 to the general public and medical workers.
Source: Cronkite News
Apr 7, 2023 - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is providing funding to Pennsylvania to support community wellness and resilience, following the train derailment and chemical spill in East Palestine, Ohio, on the Pennsylvania border. Pennsylvania will receive an initial $48,782, with additional funding expected after 90 days to continue for an additional 12 months to support activities.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services