Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Behavioral health
Assessing the Feasibility of Creating a National Behavioral Health Workforce Database
Results of a project to determine the feasibility of developing a database of behavioral health providers and practices that offers up-to-date information to support research, policymaking, and public access. Identifies key elements, including demographics, licensure, education, and practice details. Includes information on databases focused on rural health.
Author(s): Frances Jiménez, Nicole Gauthreaux, Courtney Segal, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Results of a project to determine the feasibility of developing a database of behavioral health providers and practices that offers up-to-date information to support research, policymaking, and public access. Identifies key elements, including demographics, licensure, education, and practice details. Includes information on databases focused on rural health.
Author(s): Frances Jiménez, Nicole Gauthreaux, Courtney Segal, et al.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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Implementation of Mobile Medication Units: Findings from a Qualitative Study
Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Provides a brief overview of the development of policy regarding the approval of mobile medication units (MMUs) operated by opioid treatment programs (OTPs). Presents findings from an environmental scan and key informant interviews regarding MMU implementation. Discusses barriers to establishing, sustaining, and expanding MMU services. Describes opportunities to increase access to methadone in underserved communities. Includes rural references throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organizations: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation, Mathematica
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Cancer-Related Health Behaviors During the COVID 19 Pandemic in Geographically Diverse Samples Across the US
Examines cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic via a June 2020-March 2021 survey of 21,911 people conducted through eight cancer centers. Includes demographic data, including rural-urban comparisons, on changes in physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking and tobacco use, and alcohol consumption.
Author(s): Breanna B. Greteman, Allison Cole, Mary E. Charlton, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 25, 50
Date: 01/2025
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Examines cancer-related health behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic via a June 2020-March 2021 survey of 21,911 people conducted through eight cancer centers. Includes demographic data, including rural-urban comparisons, on changes in physical activity, fruit and vegetable intake, smoking and tobacco use, and alcohol consumption.
Author(s): Breanna B. Greteman, Allison Cole, Mary E. Charlton, et al.
Citation: BMC Cancer, 25, 50
Date: 01/2025
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Youth Mental Health and Substance Use Task Force: Redesigning the Health Care Delivery System to Better Meet the Needs of Youth
Presents policy recommendations from 50 experts and thought leaders regarding how to maximize the potential of the U.S. healthcare system to better serve youth with behavioral health needs. Covers the behavioral health workforce, transparency and compliance with existing screening and treatment requirements, promoting integrated primary care and behavioral health services in pediatric settings, the needs of youth with the highest acuity behavioral health needs, and strengthening crisis and stabilization systems. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Presents policy recommendations from 50 experts and thought leaders regarding how to maximize the potential of the U.S. healthcare system to better serve youth with behavioral health needs. Covers the behavioral health workforce, transparency and compliance with existing screening and treatment requirements, promoting integrated primary care and behavioral health services in pediatric settings, the needs of youth with the highest acuity behavioral health needs, and strengthening crisis and stabilization systems. Includes rural references and considerations throughout.
Date: 01/2025
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Disparities in Allergy and Asthma Prevalence among Schoolteachers
Examines prevalence of allergic and respiratory symptoms among 398 schoolteachers in Massachusetts. Includes comparisons between teachers in rural, suburban, and urban schools for health behaviors and factors associated with adverse breathing symptoms, including headache, sleep apnea, food allergy, nighttime awakening, sore throat, and more.
Author(s): Hana B. Ruran, Briana L. Mallouh, Lisa M. Bartnikas, Wanda Phipatanakul, Abhinav Kaushik
Citation: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 155(1), 223-227
Date: 01/2025
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Examines prevalence of allergic and respiratory symptoms among 398 schoolteachers in Massachusetts. Includes comparisons between teachers in rural, suburban, and urban schools for health behaviors and factors associated with adverse breathing symptoms, including headache, sleep apnea, food allergy, nighttime awakening, sore throat, and more.
Author(s): Hana B. Ruran, Briana L. Mallouh, Lisa M. Bartnikas, Wanda Phipatanakul, Abhinav Kaushik
Citation: The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 155(1), 223-227
Date: 01/2025
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Well-Being Interventions for Rural Health Professionals: A Scoping Review
Explores the literature on rural healthcare workforce interventions aimed at addressing burnout. Highlights selection criteria and compares interventions and outcomes. Aims to identify the potential efficacy of the interventions studied.
Author(s): Skye McKennon, Suzanne Fricke, Dawn DeWitt
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12909
Date: 01/2025
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Explores the literature on rural healthcare workforce interventions aimed at addressing burnout. Highlights selection criteria and compares interventions and outcomes. Aims to identify the potential efficacy of the interventions studied.
Author(s): Skye McKennon, Suzanne Fricke, Dawn DeWitt
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(1), e12909
Date: 01/2025
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2025 North Carolina State Health Assessment: A Mid-Cycle Review of HNC 2030
Offers a comprehensive look at the health and well-being of North Carolinians and provides the mid-cycle review of Healthy North Carolina 2030 (HNC 2030). Evaluates progress on statewide health goals, identifies emerging trends, and assesses opportunities to strengthen conditions that influence health. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
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Offers a comprehensive look at the health and well-being of North Carolinians and provides the mid-cycle review of Healthy North Carolina 2030 (HNC 2030). Evaluates progress on statewide health goals, identifies emerging trends, and assesses opportunities to strengthen conditions that influence health. Mentions rural throughout.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
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2024 Louisiana Health Report Card
Provides vital statistics and other health data by parish for Louisiana. Covers disease incidence, behavioral health, and mortality, with highlighted topics including cancer, teen pregnancy, low birthweight babies, infectious disease, opioid use, deaths due to suicide and violence, and more.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Louisiana Department of Health
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Provides vital statistics and other health data by parish for Louisiana. Covers disease incidence, behavioral health, and mortality, with highlighted topics including cancer, teen pregnancy, low birthweight babies, infectious disease, opioid use, deaths due to suicide and violence, and more.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Louisiana Department of Health
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The Rural Healthcare Landscape Survey: A Behavioral Health Needs Assessment
Analyzes survey data from 437 behavioral health professionals to identify areas of opportunity for support and increasing access to behavioral healthcare providers and patients in rural areas. Data analyzed include survey participant demographics, rurality of clients and providers, amount of provider consultations, and professional well-being. Discusses areas of future research related to provider training, distribution of providers, burnout, and provider demographics.
Author(s): Douglas Knutson, Mary Louise Cashel, Cindy Juntunen, et al.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health, Education, and Rural Empowerment Lab at Oklahoma State University
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Analyzes survey data from 437 behavioral health professionals to identify areas of opportunity for support and increasing access to behavioral healthcare providers and patients in rural areas. Data analyzed include survey participant demographics, rurality of clients and providers, amount of provider consultations, and professional well-being. Discusses areas of future research related to provider training, distribution of providers, burnout, and provider demographics.
Author(s): Douglas Knutson, Mary Louise Cashel, Cindy Juntunen, et al.
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: Health, Education, and Rural Empowerment Lab at Oklahoma State University
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2025 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report
Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the causes of veteran suicide and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by sex, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors. The 2025 report is split into two parts. The second part is added as an additional link.
Additional links: National Suicide Data Appendix, Part 2: Report Findings
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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Report highlights the rate of suicide among veterans and the VA's role in suicide prevention. Discusses the causes of veteran suicide and the steps the VA is taking for suicide prevention. Breaks down rates of suicide by sex, contact with the VHA, and rurality, among other factors. The 2025 report is split into two parts. The second part is added as an additional link.
Additional links: National Suicide Data Appendix, Part 2: Report Findings
Date: 2025
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
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