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Resources by Topic: Mental health

Behavioral Health and Primary Care Integration in Rural Health Facilities: Policy Brief and Recommendations to the Secretary
Provides an overview of the prevalence of mental illness and substance use disorders in rural areas. Discusses the role of rural primary care providers in treating these conditions. Outlines federal programs and resources to support behavioral health and primary care integration. Offers policy recommendations related to access to care; workforce recruitment and retention; telehealth, technology, and broadband; and reimbursement and sustainable revenue.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Behavioral Healthcare Organizations' Experiences Related to Use of Telehealth as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploratory Study
Study examining the experiences of substance use disorder (SUD) and mental health treatment service providers with telehealth based on surveys of 391 individuals on behalf of their organizations. Describes COVID-related experiences with telehealth, general telehealth experiences, and recommendations for continued telehealth delivery, including rural-specific insights and concerns.
Author(s): Abby Kisicki, Sara Becker, Michael Chaple, et al.
Citation: BMC Health Services Research, 22, 775
Date: 06/2022
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The Appalachia Mind Health Initiative (AMHI): A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial of Adjunctive Internet-Based Cognitive Behavior Therapy for Treating Major Depressive Disorder among Primary Care Patients
Describes a planned study to evaluate a trial program to address major depressive disorder (MDD) among 3,360 enrolled patients across West Virginia through internet-based cognitive behavior therapy (CBT). Discusses the need for MDD care in rural states and offers an overview of the study's design and methodology.
Author(s): Robert M. Bossarte, Ronald C. Kessler, Andrew A. Nierenberg, et al.
Citation: Trials, 23, 520
Date: 06/2022
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Answering The Call: 988 - A New Vision for Crisis Response
Discuss three areas important to implementing the 988 mental health crisis response number and behavioral health crisis response: interagency collaboration, the behavioral health workforce, and financing. Offers policy recommendations for developing a comprehensive crisis response system. Discusses rural considerations and challenges throughout.
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Bipartisan Policy Center
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Non-Metropolitan and Metropolitan Trends in Mental Health Treatment Availability in Community Health and Community Mental Health Centers
Results of a study showing how the supply of community mental health centers (CMHCs) and community health centers (CHCs) offering mental health services changed over time, in non-metropolitan and metropolitan areas. Features statistics with breakdowns by year from 2000-2019 and by metropolitan and non-metropolitan location.
Author(s): Tyrone F. Borders, Timothy Williams, Katherine Youngen, Julia Cecil
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
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Focus on School-based Mental Health for Rural Central Virginia's Youth
Policy brief highlighting the increasing need for mental healthcare among the rural youth population of central Virginia and in the U.S. in general. Explores the effect that pandemic-related school shutdowns have had on youth mental health and the stigma surrounding mental healthcare in rural areas. Features statistics on suicide rates per 100,000 population with breakdowns by sex and rural or urban location, and student to school psychologist ratios from 2019-2020 with breakdowns by state.
Author(s): Sety Abooali
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Virginia State Office of Rural Health
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Geographic Disparities in New Onset of Internalizing Disorders in Pennsylvania Adolescents Using Electronic Health Records
Examines the prevalence of anxiety and depressive disorders among adolescents in 37 Pennsylvania counties. Includes demographic breakdowns of 7,974 subjects with internalizing disorder cases residing in rural, urban cluster, or urbanized areas. Discusses the relationship of geographic location, socioeconomic deprivation, and community greenness in relation to internalizing disorders.
Author(s): Irena Gorski-Steiner, Sean O'Dell, Karen Bandeen-Roche, et al.
Citation: Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Epidemiology, 41, 100439
Date: 06/2022
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On the Farm
Documentary miniseries explores mental health and substance misuse on the American farm. Discusses the factors that contribute to psychological stress and substance use in farm families. Features interviews with experts as well as farmers and their families.
Additional links: Film Website
Date: 06/2022
Sponsoring organization: Mississippi State University
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Determinants of Telehealth Service Use among Mental Health Patients: A Case of Rural Louisiana
Examines the use of telehealth for mental health appointments in rural Louisiana. Analyzes 6 mental health outpatient clinics that completed 7,069 telehealth visits with 1,115 patients from April 2020 to March 2021. Discusses how demographic factors and severity of disease impact telehealth usage.
Author(s): Monteic A. Sizer, Dependra Bhatta, Binod Acharya, Krishna P. Paudel
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(11), 6930
Date: 06/2022
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Fostering a Culture of Resilient Rural EMS Webinar
Discusses the challenges experienced by rural emergency medical services (EMS) providers and ways to promote positive mental health. Includes commentary on Flex Programs and their role in supporting EMS providers. Transcript available below description.
Additional links: Presentation Slides
Author(s): John Becknell, Michael Washington, Nicole Threadgold, John Nokes
Date: 05/2022
Sponsoring organization: National Rural Health Resource Center
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