Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Behavioral health
Early Evidence of Geographic Variation in Medicare Participation among Newly Eligible Mental Health Providers Following the 2024 Coverage Expansion
Explores the effect that Medicare's expansion of coverage to marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) has had on the rural mental health workforce. Highlights the rate of participation among rural MFTs and MHCs in Medicare from 2022 to 2024 and compares rates to metro counties.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70180
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the effect that Medicare's expansion of coverage to marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and mental health counselors (MHCs) has had on the rural mental health workforce. Highlights the rate of participation among rural MFTs and MHCs in Medicare from 2022 to 2024 and compares rates to metro counties.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Natalia V. Oster, Lisa A. Garberson, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 42(3), e70180
Date: 07/2026
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Frequent Police Contact and Nonfatal Overdose among People Who Use Drugs in Rural Appalachia
Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the relationship between non-fatal overdoses and frequent stop-and-search contact with the police for rural people who use drugs (PWUD) in Kentucky. Breaks down data by participant demographic measures, such as age, sex, housing stability, frequency of police stops, and drug use, among other measures.
Author(s): Javier A. Cepeda, Talia Loeb, Zach R. Salazar, et al.
Citation: Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 284, 113188
Date: 07/2026
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Exploring Associations Between Well-Being, Mental Distress, and Five Dimensions of Social Capital in Rural Georgia
Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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Explores the role social capital plays in supporting mental health and well-being in rural communities. Bases findings on surveys collected from residents of 6 rural counties in Georgia. Breaks down findings by rates of mental health and well-being by dimension of social capital: trust, diversity of interactions, reciprocity, civic engagement, and voting.
Author(s): Alexis Joanna Smith, Lauren M Bigger, Robin E McGee, et al.
Citation: Family and Community Health, 49(3), 192-196
Date: 07/2026
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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: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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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: 07/2026
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Severe Mental Health Conditions, Fentanyl Injection, and Severe Substance Use Disorders Are Associated with Violent Victimization among Rural Appalachian Adults Who Inject Drugs
Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
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Explores the correlation between polyvictimization, having experienced two or more types of violence, and mental health conditions, substance use, and socio-demographic factors among people who inject drugs in rural Appalachia. Breaks down data by types of violence experienced, mental health and substance use history, age, sex, and experience with homelessness, among other measures.
Author(s): Janet K. Otachi, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Leah A. Munroe, et al.
Citation: The American Journal of Drug and Alcohol Abuse, 52(3), 409-419
Date: 06/2026
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How Wearables and Other Digital Tools Are Driving Innovation in Behavioral Health
Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Explores the use of wearable devices, applications, telehealth platforms, and AI-enabled screening tools to support prevention, treatment, and recovery for mental health conditions and substance use disorders. Discusses how these tools can be used to collect data that can inform care strategies and policy. Highlights how digital tools can broaden access to rural communities.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Understanding Smokeless Tobacco Use in Rural United States: A Narrative Synthesis of Contributing Factors and Prevention Efforts
Narrative review examining research on smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in rural areas. Covers prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies, giving particular attention to youth SLT use.
Author(s): Mariyam Abbas, Steven A. Cohen
Citation: Public Health in Practice, 11, 100801
Date: 06/2026
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Narrative review examining research on smokeless tobacco (SLT) use in rural areas. Covers prevalence, risk factors, and prevention strategies, giving particular attention to youth SLT use.
Author(s): Mariyam Abbas, Steven A. Cohen
Citation: Public Health in Practice, 11, 100801
Date: 06/2026
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Syphilis Outbreak Field Outreach, Overdose Prevention, and Tribal Collaboration: Lessons Learned from Oklahoma State Department of Health
Details how the Oklahoma State Department of Health addressed a syphilis outbreak concurrently with overdose prevention efforts across rural, urban, and tribal areas via partnerships with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board and other tribal and community organizations.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Details how the Oklahoma State Department of Health addressed a syphilis outbreak concurrently with overdose prevention efforts across rural, urban, and tribal areas via partnerships with the Southern Plains Tribal Health Board and other tribal and community organizations.
Date: 06/2026
Sponsoring organizations: National Association of County and City Health Officials, Oklahoma State Department of Health
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Resourcefulness, Ingenuity, and Community Strengths in Meeting Rural Youth Mental Health Needs: A Multiple Case Study
Examines how rural schools strategize to meet mental health needs of their students. Utilizes interview and focus group data from 133 educators regarding their experiences of maximizing school resources, providing staff development and training, and developing social-emotional curricula.
Author(s): Aaron Leo, Jessie Tobin, Paul Guay, Kristen Campbell Wilcox
Citation: The Rural Educator, 47(3), 47-64
Date: 06/2026
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Examines how rural schools strategize to meet mental health needs of their students. Utilizes interview and focus group data from 133 educators regarding their experiences of maximizing school resources, providing staff development and training, and developing social-emotional curricula.
Author(s): Aaron Leo, Jessie Tobin, Paul Guay, Kristen Campbell Wilcox
Citation: The Rural Educator, 47(3), 47-64
Date: 06/2026
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Barriers and Solutions to Effective Mental Health Services in Rural Schools: A Delphi Study
Examines strategies to provide effective school-based mental health services in rural areas. Utilizes feedback from 30 rural educators and discusses issues such as behavioral health workforce shortages, stigma, limited access to services, infrastructure problems, community partnership needs, classroom social-emotional learning, and more.
Author(s): Rawn Boulden, Anna Simmons
Citation: The Rural Educator, 47(3), 37-46
Date: 06/2026
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Examines strategies to provide effective school-based mental health services in rural areas. Utilizes feedback from 30 rural educators and discusses issues such as behavioral health workforce shortages, stigma, limited access to services, infrastructure problems, community partnership needs, classroom social-emotional learning, and more.
Author(s): Rawn Boulden, Anna Simmons
Citation: The Rural Educator, 47(3), 37-46
Date: 06/2026
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