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Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Behavioral health

Co-Creating and Disseminating Substance Use and Vaping Educational Videos, Question Prompt Lists, and Other Resources in Partnership with Community Organizations and Youth in Western North Carolina
Describes the development of and evaluates the social media reach of a youth empowerment program addressing substance use in rural North Carolina. Discusses the inclusion of youth in the development process.
Author(s): Betsy Sleath, Abena A. Adjei, Jeremy Lowery, et al.
Citation: PEC Innovation, 7
Date: 12/2025
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Barriers and Facilitators to Implementing Electronic Patient Reported Outcome Screening for Mental Illness and Substance Use Disorders at HIV Clinics in Alabama: A Qualitative Study
Examines barriers and facilitators related to implementation of electronic patient reported outcome measures (ePROs) to address mental health (MH) issues and substance use disorders (SUD) in people with HIV. Utilizes interview feedback from 15 staff at Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program (RWHP) clinics in Alabama regarding their experiences with the ePRO intervention, focusing on its impact in rural areas with an increased HIV burden.
Author(s): Ellen Eaton, C. Greer McCollum, Kelly W. Gagnon, Anna-Julia Enid Kutsch, Kaylee Burgan
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 25, 1462
Date: 11/2025
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County-Level Vulnerability Is Associated With Mental Health and Substance Use Treatment Among Rural Suicide Decedents: A National Multi-Year Cross-Sectional Study
Presents a study on the relationship between individual- and county-level factors that correlate with rural suicide decedents who receive mental health and substance use dependence treatment. Breaks down data by county-level factors, such as number of mental health providers, number of primary care providers, and rate of social associations, among others, as well as individual characteristics, such as age, sex, education, and marital status, among others.
Author(s): J. Priyanka Vakkalanka, Victor A. Soupene, Jennifer Van Tiem, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(4), e70094
Date: 11/2025
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Poor Mental Health Days and Depression by Farming Occupation and Sociodemographic Factors: BRFSS 2019 Data from 13 States
Analyzes 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey sociodemographic data from 13 states to compare poor mental health days and depression diagnosis between farmers and non-farmers. Discusses study findings in light of disproportionate suicide rates for people in farming occupations.
Author(s): Jeanne M. Ward, John R. Blosnich
Citation: Journal of Agromedicine, 2025
Date: 11/2025
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Rural-Urban Differences in Post-9/11 Women Veterans' Firearm Ownership and Characteristics
Compares rural and urban firearm ownership, firearm characteristics, firearm safety practices, and other related characteristics among 525 women veterans with at least one post-9/11 deployment. Discusses assessment of firearm ownership and access as a component of suicide prevention for veterans.
Author(s): Ashley M. Griffith, Christin Miller, Nicole M. Caulfield, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 73
Date: 11/2025
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Missed Opportunities for Tobacco Dependence Treatment among U.S. Veterans Referred for Lung Cancer Screening: An Observational Cohort Study
Analyzes rates at which tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) is provided to veterans who use tobacco and were referred for lung cancer screening (LCS) at Veterans Affairs Medical Centers and associated clinics in the upper Midwest between September 2022 and September 2023. Breaks down clinical and demographic factors associated with TDT use, including rurality.
Author(s): Anne C. Melzer, Adam Kaplan, Megan Campbell, et al.
Citation: Preventive Medicine Reports, 59, 103263
Date: 11/2025
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Medicare Waiver Expiration & Telehealth FAQs
Provides answers to frequently asked questions regarding the expiration of Medicare telehealth waivers on September 30, 2025. Covers in-person visit requirements, billing procedures, and the applicability of policies across different care settings, including Rural Health Clinics (RHCs) and Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs).
Additional links: Chart: Telehealth Medicare Post-September 30, 2025
Date: 11/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Connected Health Policy: The National Telehealth Policy Resource Center
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Strength in Community: Native Youth Leading HPV Cancer Prevention
Discusses the Southeastern American Indian Cancer Health Equity Partnership (SAICEP), a cancer prevention initiative focused on addressing cancer burdens through partnerships with North Carolina's tribal nations and urban Indian organizations. Details SAICEP's current initiative to encourage youth cancer prevention advocacy, including strategies related to human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, tobacco use reduction, and sun safety.
Author(s): Ryan Dial
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
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Nurse-Directed Coordination of Cancer Survivorship Care in a Tribal Primary Care Clinic
Examines the feasibility of a nurse cancer care coordinator intervention focused on improving cancer care at a tribally-operated primary care clinic in the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma. Provides data on survivorship care plans, cancer-related distress, time spent on coordination activities, and other aspects of program implementation via a trial utilizing data of 23 American Indian intervention participants.
Author(s): Amber S. Anderson-Buettner, Kathleen A. Dwyer, Zsolt J. Nagykaldi, et al.
Citation: BMC Primary Care, 26, 334
Date: 10/2025
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Calendar Year (CY) 2026 Medicare Physician Fee Schedule Final Rule (CMS-1832-F)
Fact sheet providing an overview of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) final rule regarding updates and changes to the Medicare payments under the Physician Fee Schedule (PFS) and other Medicare Part B issues for calendar year 2026. Summarizes provisions related to telehealth services; improving care for chronic illness and behavioral health needs; Rural Health Clinic (RHC) and Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) care coordination services, services requiring direct supervision, and telecommunication services; and more.
Date: 10/2025
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
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