Rural Mental Health – Resources

Suicide Prevention: Resource for Action
Presents a compilation of best practices for suicide prevention. Explores 7 different approaches to suicide prevention for communities to implement, such as strengthening economic supports, creating protective environments, and improving access and delivery of suicide care, among others. Includes discussion about how different strategies function in rural communities.
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Behavioral Health: Available Workforce Information and Federal Actions to Help Recruit and Retain Providers
Examines the available information on the behavioral health workforce, including federal data on the number of providers nationwide and the projection of the supply and demand for behavioral health providers in 2030. Identifies key barriers to recruiting and retaining behavioral health providers, as well as actions federal agencies have taken to support recruiting and retaining these providers. Outlines federal loan repayment, scholarship, and training programs designed to address workforce challenges in rural and other underserved areas.
Additional links: Full Report
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: Government Accountability Office
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Suicide and Self-Harm in Youth Presenting to a US Rural Hospital During COVID-19
Presents a study on rural emergency department utilization and hospital admission for suicide or self-harm in children ages 5 to 17 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzes hospital data from January 2017 to May 2021. Breaks down data by demographic factors, such as sex and rurality, as well as length of stay and visit type, among other measures.
Author(s): Mary Arakelyan, Jennifer A. Emond, JoAnna K. Leyenaar
Citation: Hospital Pediatrics, 12(10), e336–e342
Date: 10/2022
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Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Social Workers in the U.S., 2014-2021
Describes the distribution of social workers in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in social workers per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): CHA Andrilla, SC Woolcock, LA Garberson, DG Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Psychiatrists in the U.S., 1995-2019
Describes the distribution of psychiatrists in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychiatrists per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 1995-2019.
Author(s): CHA Andrilla, SC Woolcock, LA Garberson, DG Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Psychiatric Nurse Practitioners in the U.S., 2014-2021
Describes the distribution of psychiatric nurse practitioners in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychiatric nurse practitioners per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): CHA Andrilla, SC Woolcock, LA Garberson, DG Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Counselors in the U.S., 2014-2021
Describes the distribution of various types of counselors in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in counselors per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): CHA Andrilla, SC Woolcock, LA Garberson, DG Patterson
Date: 10/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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Rural Depopulation and the Rural-Urban Gap in Cognitive Functioning Among Older Adults
Presents a study on the disparities in cognitive health older adults in rural versus urban populations. Breaks down data by age, race, marital status, and education, among other measures. Explores how depopulation correlates with cognitive functioning and compares the effect in rural and urban populations.
Author(s): Rebecca Glauber
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 38(4), 696-704
Date: 09/2022
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Changes in the Supply and Rural-Urban Distribution of Psychologists in the U.S., 2014-2021
Describes the distribution of psychologists in U.S. counties by rural or urban location and census division. Features statistics with breakdowns by 6 levels of population density and by year. Includes county-level map showing change in psychologists per 100,000 population in rural counties, from 2014-2021.
Author(s): CHA Andrilla, SC Woolcock, LA Garberson, DG Patterson
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
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HHS Roadmap for Behavioral Health Integration
Issue brief describing behavioral healthcare needs, barriers to access, and plans to integrate behavioral health and other forms of healthcare. Offering policy solutions to strengthen system capacity, connect patients to care, and create healthy, supportive environments. Notes rural disparities in mental healthcare access and rural-specific behavioral health training.
Date: 09/2022
Sponsoring organization: HHS Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation
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