Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Behavioral health workforce
The Distribution of the Youth Behavioral Health Workforce in Rural and Urban America in 2025
Examines the distribution of school counselors; youth, family, or school psychologists; youth or family mental health nurses; school social workers; and pediatric psychiatrists or behavioral pediatricians across rural and urban areas of the U.S. Features statistics with breakdowns by provider type and location by 6 levels of population density, and a county-level map with shadings showing rural counties with and without youth behavioral health clinicians.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Examines the distribution of school counselors; youth, family, or school psychologists; youth or family mental health nurses; school social workers; and pediatric psychiatrists or behavioral pediatricians across rural and urban areas of the U.S. Features statistics with breakdowns by provider type and location by 6 levels of population density, and a county-level map with shadings showing rural counties with and without youth behavioral health clinicians.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, C. Holly A. Andrilla
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Comparing the Care, Distance Traveled, and Health Workforce Clinician Mix for Rural and Urban Commercially Insured Enrollees With Opioid Use Disorder
Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Examines characteristics of opioid treatment in rural and urban communities across the United States. Utilizes 2019 commercial claims data from the Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI) to analyze rural versus urban differences in opioid use disorder and overdose diagnoses, healthcare utilization, healthcare visits by clinician type, average distance traveled to utilize healthcare, and location of received care.
Author(s): C. Holly A. Andrilla, Sara C. Woolcock, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Health Professional Shortage Areas: Mental Health
Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan mental health HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan mental health HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Additional links: Mental Health HPSA Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
Printable map that shows nonmetropolitan and micropolitan mental health HPSAs on one color scale and metropolitan mental health HPSAs on another. Data source: data.HRSA.gov
Additional links: Mental Health HPSA Table
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
view details
National Health Service Corps Site Reference Guide
Provides clarification for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites regarding eligibility requirements, qualification factors, compliance, roles and responsibilities, and other factors for becoming an NHSC approved site. Acts as a supplemental resource to the information provided in the online NHSC Site Application.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
view details
Provides clarification for National Health Service Corps (NHSC) sites regarding eligibility requirements, qualification factors, compliance, roles and responsibilities, and other factors for becoming an NHSC approved site. Acts as a supplemental resource to the information provided in the online NHSC Site Application.
Date: 04/2026
Sponsoring organization: Health Resources and Services Administration
view details
Rural Health Transformation Program: State Focus on Behavioral Health
Describes behavioral healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers behavioral health integration in primary care, the behavioral health crisis continuum, the behavioral health workforce, payment approaches, and technology investments.
Author(s): Laura Galbreath
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
view details
Describes behavioral healthcare initiatives addressed in state Rural Health Transformation Program applications. Covers behavioral health integration in primary care, the behavioral health crisis continuum, the behavioral health workforce, payment approaches, and technology investments.
Author(s): Laura Galbreath
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: National Academy for State Health Policy
view details
Mental Health Specialist Telemedicine Uptake and Patient Location
Analyzes 17,742 Medicare fee-for-service claims for mental health specialists between 2018 and 2023 to identify the proportion of telemedicine visits that are with rural, low-access-to-care, or other distant communities. Includes analysis of new and established patients. Discusses study findings as part of larger discussions regarding telehealth increasing access to healthcare for rural and other hard to reach populations.
Author(s): Jacob Jorem, Andrew D. Wilcock, Alisa B. Busch, Haiden A. Huskamp, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3)
Date: 03/2026
view details
Analyzes 17,742 Medicare fee-for-service claims for mental health specialists between 2018 and 2023 to identify the proportion of telemedicine visits that are with rural, low-access-to-care, or other distant communities. Includes analysis of new and established patients. Discusses study findings as part of larger discussions regarding telehealth increasing access to healthcare for rural and other hard to reach populations.
Author(s): Jacob Jorem, Andrew D. Wilcock, Alisa B. Busch, Haiden A. Huskamp, Ateev Mehrotra
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 9(3)
Date: 03/2026
view details
West Virginia Rural Behavioral Health Workforce
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in West Virginia in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Offers maps and tables of the supply and distribution of behavioral health clinicians in West Virginia in 2025. Includes county-level data and rural and urban comparisons.
Author(s): S.C. Woolcock, C.H.A. Andrilla, L.A. Garberson, J.M. Graves
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
State of North Carolina's Mental Health and Substance Use Services Workforce: Need, Supply, and Distribution Landscape Assessment
Provides an overview on need, supply, and distribution of behavioral health professionals in North Carolina. Includes county-level maps and data on workforce and behavioral health issues.
Author(s): Brianna Lombardi, Jennifer Headley, Monica P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
view details
Provides an overview on need, supply, and distribution of behavioral health professionals in North Carolina. Includes county-level maps and data on workforce and behavioral health issues.
Author(s): Brianna Lombardi, Jennifer Headley, Monica P. Jimenez, et al.
Date: 03/2026
Sponsoring organization: The Cecil G. Sheps Center for Health Services Research
view details
REH: Peer Support in Rural Emergency Departments
Describes how peer support services can address address substance use and mental health crises in rural emergency departments. Profiles the Peer Recovery Expansion Project (PREP), a Pennsylvania-based initiative that embeds Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) directly into emergency departments.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
view details
Describes how peer support services can address address substance use and mental health crises in rural emergency departments. Profiles the Peer Recovery Expansion Project (PREP), a Pennsylvania-based initiative that embeds Certified Recovery Specialists (CRS) directly into emergency departments.
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Redesign Center
view details
Indiana Psychologist Workforce Data Report
Provides 2024 workforce data on psychologists in Indiana. Analyzes information on license renewals, employment status and characteristics, demographics, populations served and services provided, and geographic distribution, including total psychologists by county as well as county-level ratios of population per one psychologist.
Author(s): Cleveland Dietz, Sierra Vaughn, Brittany Daulton
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
view details
Provides 2024 workforce data on psychologists in Indiana. Analyzes information on license renewals, employment status and characteristics, demographics, populations served and services provided, and geographic distribution, including total psychologists by county as well as county-level ratios of population per one psychologist.
Author(s): Cleveland Dietz, Sierra Vaughn, Brittany Daulton
Date: 02/2026
Sponsoring organization: Bowen Center for Health Workforce Research and Policy
view details