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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Behavioral health

The Doctor is … Out: Shortages of Health Professionals in Rural Areas
Reports on healthcare professional shortages in 16 rural New York counties, including rural and county-level data on primary care, dental health, mental health, and maternity care providers. Discusses rural barriers to healthcare access and highlights approaches to strengthen the rural health workforce in New York.
Author(s): Andrea Miller, Maria Doulis, Matthew Golden, Joshua Simons
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Office of the New York State Comptroller
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Geographic Disparities by Rural-Urban Status and Drive Time to Care in Tobacco Treatment for COPD
Explores the potential relationship between the drive-time to tobacco dependence treatment (TDT) services and the development of COPD among smokers. Details distances of rural smokers to TDT services. Draws from Veterans Affairs data and breaks down data by demographic characteristics, treatment type, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Arianne K. Baldomero, Anne C. Melzer, Ken M. Kunisaki, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 8(8), e2528898
Date: 08/2025
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Drug Overdose Deaths in Kentucky, 2019–2024: Are We Back to Pre-COVID-19 Levels?
Examines drug overdose deaths in Kentucky and the impact of COVID-19 on mortality rates. Utilizes 2019-2024 Kentucky Office of Vital Statistics data to analyze overdose mortality rates according to year, demographics, contributing drugs, and metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Aaron P. Smith, Juan Lang, Carmen Canedo, et al.
Citation: Injury Epidemiology, 12, 51
Date: 08/2025
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California Tobacco Facts and Figures 2025
Reports data on current use and trends in tobacco use and tobacco-related behaviors in California. Includes demographic breakdowns, including rural-urban comparisons, in addition to county-level data for select topics.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: California Department of Public Health
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Tobacco Product Use or Nicotine Vaping in the Past Month
Report discusses rates of tobacco and nicotine vaping use detailed in the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) from 2022, 2023, and 2024. Features breakdowns by demographics, years and rurality, among other measures.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Hoosier Sport Re-Social: A Protocol for Developing a Biopsychosocial Body Satisfaction Intervention in Rural Indiana
Provides a study protocol for an intervention aimed at improving body satisfaction, healthy social media use, and positive exercise behaviors in adolescent girls living in rural Indiana. Discusses plans to examine adolescent self-esteem and physical activity levels, create a community co-design intervention, and conduct a mixed-methods pilot study within physical and health education classes.
Author(s): Janette M. Watkins, Janelle M. Goss, Vanessa M. Martinez Kercher, et al.
Citation: Pilot and Feasibility Studies, 11, 113
Date: 08/2025
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Trends in Mental Health Care Utilization in Rural and Nonrural Areas, 2019-2023
Examines changes in mental healthcare utilization between 2019 and 2023. Utilizes National Health Interview Survey data to compare rural and nonrural trends related to mental health utilization, therapy, and medication. Discusses the impact of telehealth options and the COVID-19 pandemic on mental healthcare availability.
Author(s): Bryce J. Stanley
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70074
Date: 08/2025
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Barriers to Accessible and Affordable Mental Health and Substance Use Disorder Care for Older Adults
Discusses challenges in accessing healthcare for mental health and substance use disorders for older adults. Challenges discussed include workforce shortages in rural areas, Medicare regulations, stigma, health insurance coverage, and more.
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: AARP Public Policy Institute
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Tobacco Retailer Density and Rurality Across Four US States: California, Connecticut, North Carolina, and Ohio
Presents a study on the tobacco retailer density of rural areas. Compares density rates of rural tracts with metropolitan, micropolitan, and small towns. Draws examples from California, Ohio, Connecticut, and North Carolina.
Author(s): Emerson Webb, Peter F. Craigmile, Meghan E. Morean, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(3), e70073
Date: 08/2025
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Expanding Access to Integrated Medicare-Medicaid Programs in Rural Communities
Discusses the rural population who are dually eligible for Medicare and Medicaid and their unique physical health, mental health, and health-related social needs (HRSNs). Includes information on dual eligibility issues related to access, integrated care, and managed care infrastructure. Provides a literature review and stakeholder interview feedback focused on potential strategies to improve healthcare integration.
Author(s): Molly Knowles, Nida Joseph, Nancy Archibald, Ellen Breslin
Date: 08/2025
Sponsoring organization: Center for Health Care Strategies
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