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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Mental Health – News

News stories from the past 60 days.

Dec 9, 2024 - Provides overview of resources available through the Rural Mental Health Resources Hub, created by Mental Health America (MHA). Describes resources including a free mental health screening, educational overviews, and information for communities looking to better serve residents with mental health conditions. Discusses rural disparities in access to mental health treatment and efforts by MHA's South Carolina chapter to expand access through a mobile mental health clinic program.
Source: The Daily Yonder
Dec 3, 2024 - Reports on new data showing that children in the poorest and most rural Colorado counties are more likely to have a parent or sibling die. Highlights factors likely contributing to this disparity. Discusses challenges with access to therapy and support services for rural children and efforts to overcome those challenges through recruiting rural behavioral healthcare workforce.
Source: The Colorado Sun
Dec 3, 2024 - Highlights the work of 3 rural Michigan community mental health agencies. Discusses challenges related to workforce, stigma, transportation, substance use, and more as well as work to overcome those challenges through outreach and partnering with other community institutions.
Source: Flint Side
Dec 2, 2024 - Notice from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) seeking comments on a new information collection related to the SAMHSA 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and Crisis Services Program Evaluation. SAMHSA will use the information collected to conduct an evaluation of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline and Crisis Services, to ensure individuals in suicidal, mental health and/or substance use crisis can contact 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline and are connected to crisis centers providing evidence-based care and are able to receive critical resource referral and linkage. Comments are due by January 31, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 26, 2024 - Discusses a student-led peer support initiative to destigmatize mental health in a rural Nevada community. Highlights existing challenges in accessing mental healthcare due to workforce shortages as well as limited transportation.
Source: The Nevada Independent
Nov 22, 2024 - Notice from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) making corrections to a date listed in the November 12, 2024, final rule.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 20, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposing to require covered text providers, including wireless providers, to support georouting to ensure that the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline may route covered 988 text messages to appropriate local crisis centers. The FCC proposes to require covered text providers to send georouting data to the 988 Lifeline to the same extent that they are required to send covered 988 text messages to the Lifeline. Comments are due by December 20, 2024, and reply comments are due by January 9, 2025.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 12, 2024 - Notice of final rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announcing the adoption of a Third Report and Order that requires wireless providers to implement a georouting solution for calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to facilitate access to critical local intervention services. The Third Report and Order also revises the Commission's existing 988 voice and texting rules to permit routing to the 988 Lifeline without translation to a toll-free access number, giving wireless providers flexibility in implementing georouting solutions. This rule is effective December 12, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Nov 7, 2024 - Discusses a new training program to address mental health workforce shortages in Vermont. The program will place mental health workers in rural schools and offer incentives for students that continue working at their placement beyond graduation.
Source: Vermont Public
Last Updated: 12/9/2024