Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Mental health
Interstate Occupational Licensure Arrangements to Expand Access to Behavioral Health Services
Policy brief describing state-based provisions to expand behavioral health services through interstate licensure arrangements for providers. Discusses potential impact on provision of behavioral health services, including telehealth, with a focus on how expanded services might enhance access for rural residents. Features state-level maps showing where legislation has been enacted or introduced, as of November 2024.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Policy brief describing state-based provisions to expand behavioral health services through interstate licensure arrangements for providers. Discusses potential impact on provision of behavioral health services, including telehealth, with a focus on how expanded services might enhance access for rural residents. Features state-level maps showing where legislation has been enacted or introduced, as of November 2024.
Author(s): Natalia V. Oster, C. Holly A. Andrilla, Davis G. Patterson, Lisa A. Garberson, Janessa M. Graves
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
view details
Associations Between Screen Time Use and Health Outcomes Among US Teenagers
Examines screen use and its correlation to health outcomes in teenagers aged 12 to 17. Utilizes self-reported data from the 2021–2023 National Health Interview Survey-Teen (NHIS-Teen) to analyze physical activity, sleep, weight, and mental health, further broken down by respondent demographics, including metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Amanda E. Ng, Lindsey I. Black, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
view details
Examines screen use and its correlation to health outcomes in teenagers aged 12 to 17. Utilizes self-reported data from the 2021–2023 National Health Interview Survey-Teen (NHIS-Teen) to analyze physical activity, sleep, weight, and mental health, further broken down by respondent demographics, including metro versus nonmetro location.
Author(s): Benjamin Zablotsky, Amanda E. Ng, Lindsey I. Black, et al.
Citation: Preventing Chronic Disease, 22
Date: 07/2025
view details
Illegally Made Fentanyl Use in the United States: 2022 and 2023
Report highlights findings from the 2022 and 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on the use of illegally made fentanyl across the U.S. Explores co-usage with other drugs, emergency room visits/hospitalizations, and breaks down user characteristics by age, poverty level, and rurality, among other measures.
Citation: NSDUH Data Brief, 2(2)
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Report highlights findings from the 2022 and 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) on the use of illegally made fentanyl across the U.S. Explores co-usage with other drugs, emergency room visits/hospitalizations, and breaks down user characteristics by age, poverty level, and rurality, among other measures.
Citation: NSDUH Data Brief, 2(2)
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details
Rural Veterans' Thoughts on High Suicide Rates in Their Communities—and on What to Do About It
Highlights a study on the perspective of rural veterans on methods for suicide prevention in their communities. Bases findings on a survey of veterans in rural counties in Oregon and explores perceptions around socioeconomic resources, person-centered healthcare, and having a strong sense of community.
Author(s): Lauren M. Denneson
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
view details
Highlights a study on the perspective of rural veterans on methods for suicide prevention in their communities. Bases findings on a survey of veterans in rural counties in Oregon and explores perceptions around socioeconomic resources, person-centered healthcare, and having a strong sense of community.
Author(s): Lauren M. Denneson
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: VA Health Systems Research, Office of Research & Development
view details
Access and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Urban America
Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
view details
Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
view details
South Dakota Health Professional Shortage Areas: Mental Healthcare
South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
view details
South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
view details
From Crisis to Recovery: Health and Resilience Two Years After the Maui Wildfires
Reports on the impact of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the health, wellness, and life of people living in West Maui and Kula. Topics covered include mental health, physical health, access to healthcare, housing, employment, and social support. The associated dashboard provides data from the report in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Krit Phankitnirundorn, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
view details
Reports on the impact of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the health, wellness, and life of people living in West Maui and Kula. Topics covered include mental health, physical health, access to healthcare, housing, employment, and social support. The associated dashboard provides data from the report in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Krit Phankitnirundorn, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
view details
Assessing Older Adult Behavioral Health Diagnoses in Oregon by Geographical Area, Physical Disability Status, and Age
Analyzes rural and urban variations in behavioral health diagnoses among older adults in Oregon, utilizing 2017-2021 Oregon Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative data drawn from 5,123 consultation reports. Compares rural and urban diagnosis rates and behavioral health diagnosis types, with further data breakdowns for select demographics.
Author(s): N.F. Parsons, Allyson Stodola, Ellis Hews, et al.
Citation: Aging & Mental Health, 30(1), 167-175
Date: 06/2025
view details
Analyzes rural and urban variations in behavioral health diagnoses among older adults in Oregon, utilizing 2017-2021 Oregon Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative data drawn from 5,123 consultation reports. Compares rural and urban diagnosis rates and behavioral health diagnosis types, with further data breakdowns for select demographics.
Author(s): N.F. Parsons, Allyson Stodola, Ellis Hews, et al.
Citation: Aging & Mental Health, 30(1), 167-175
Date: 06/2025
view details
Supporting Community Mental Health in Libraries: A Toolkit for Implementing Evidence-Based Approaches
Toolkit designed to help librarians identify and implement mental health supports within libraries to support their community members' mental well-being. Builds on findings from an implementation evaluation of from Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot program that embedded nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas.
Author(s): Amy L. Shearer, Ivy Todd, Karen Christianson, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details
Toolkit designed to help librarians identify and implement mental health supports within libraries to support their community members' mental well-being. Builds on findings from an implementation evaluation of from Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot program that embedded nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas.
Author(s): Amy L. Shearer, Ivy Todd, Karen Christianson, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details
Integrating Mental Health Support into Rural Libraries: Evaluation of the Libraries for Health (L4H) Initiative
Presents findings from an evaluation of the implementation of Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot project embedding nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas. Summarizes how libraries implemented L4H, barriers and facilitators of implementation, and efforts to to build and sustain the program and sustain their capacity to address patrons' mental health needs.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Lynsay Ayer, Karen Christianson, Ivy Todd, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details
Presents findings from an evaluation of the implementation of Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot project embedding nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas. Summarizes how libraries implemented L4H, barriers and facilitators of implementation, and efforts to to build and sustain the program and sustain their capacity to address patrons' mental health needs.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Lynsay Ayer, Karen Christianson, Ivy Todd, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
view details