Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Mental health

A Pandemic of Body, Mind, and Spirit: The Burden of "Social Distancing" in Rural Communities During an Era of Heightened Suicide Risk
Discusses the potentially heightened risk of suicide in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Examines how decreased access to mental healthcare, economic stress, stigma, and social isolation could increase the risk of suicide in rural areas.
Author(s): Natalie B. Riblet, Susan P. Stevens, Bradley V. Watts, Brian Shiner
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 207-210
Date: 01/2021
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Preventing Suicide in Rural Communities During the COVID‐19 Pandemic
Explores the potentially increased risk of suicide during the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of providing mental healthcare. Highlights some of the factors related to COVID-19 that could increase the risk, such as self isolation, access to firearms, and decreased access to healthcare.
Author(s): Lindsey L. Monteith, Ryan Holliday, Talia L. Brown, Lisa A. Brenner, Nathaniel V. Mohatt
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 179-184
Date: 01/2021
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Flattening the Curve by Getting Ahead of It: How the VA Healthcare System Is Leveraging Telehealth to Provide Continued Access to Care for Rural Veterans
Describes the Veterans Health Administration's efforts to use telehealth to provide behavioral health services to rural veterans affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Ursula S. Myers, Anna Birks, Anouk L. Grubaugh, R. Neal Axon
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 194-196
Date: 01/2021
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Promoting Physical Activity in Rural Settings: Effectiveness and Potential Strategies
Evaluates the effectiveness of a BEAT Cancer, a physical activity intervention for female cancer survivors, utilizing data from 16 program participants in a rural, community setting. Includes data on outcomes related to physical activity, mental health, quality of life, and barriers to physical activity of 16 participants. Includes program implementation and design feedback from participants.
Author(s): Whitney J. Smith, Michelle Y. Martin, Maria Pisu, et al.
Citation: Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine, 6(4), e000180
Date: 2021
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Meeting Students Where They Are: Trauma-Informed Approaches in Rural Schools
Discusses the need for more supports in rural schools to address trauma and mental health concerns. Provides potential models schools can adopt to improve trauma-informed education and close achievement gaps for rural students.
Author(s): Maria Frankland
Citation: The Rural Educator, 42(2), 51-71
Date: 2021
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Kansas Primary Care Needs Assessment
Reports the results of a statewide needs assessment conducted in 2021 that focuses on the primary care needs of rural and underserved populations in Kansas. Includes discussion on provider shortages, access issues related to quality preventive and primary care services, telehealth services, and more. Shares maps providing county-level data on Primary Care, Dental, and Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Kansas Office of Primary Care and Rural Health
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Leading Causes of Death and Health Disparities Among the American Indian and Alaska Native Population in Arizona
Highlights the health disparities and major causes of death faced by American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN) communities in Arizona to serve as a guide for tribal leaders and organizations when developing programs focused on improving AI/AN health. Includes information and data derived from Arizona population health and vital statistics, United States Census Bureau, and the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) on chronic disease, causes of death, and behavioral risk factors for AI/AN populations.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Arizona Department of Health Services
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School Districts Have Expanded Their Nonacademic Services for 2021–2022, While Academic Offerings Remain Much the Same: Selected Findings from the Third American School District Panel Survey
Report highlights the findings of an American School District Panel survey of district leaders on the potential changes to their academic and nonacademic offerings for the 2021-2022 school year. Details information on school-based mental health services and features data on rural school districts.
Additional links: Full Report
Author(s): Heather L. Schwartz, Melissa Kay Diliberti
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Health Disparities Report 2021
Report examining health disparity trends based on data from America's Health Rankings reports. Offers reports by state and discusses disparities related to social and economic factors, physical environment, clinical care, behaviors, and health outcomes. Most state reports offer data comparisons by metro and non-metro residence.
Additional links: Executive Brief, State Summaries
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: United Health Foundation
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High and Rising Mortality Rates Among Working-Age Adults
Identifies key drivers of increasing death rates and disparities in working-age mortality from 1990-2017 and examines modifiable risk factors that could alleviate poor health and widening health inequalities in the working-age population. Makes recommendations for future research and data collection, and explores potential policy implications. Mentions rural throughout. Features statistics on trends in working-age mortality by age, sex, race/ethnicity, cause of death, and geography.
Author(s): Committee on Rising Midlife Mortality Rates and Socioeconomic Disparities
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
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