Rural Mental Health – Resources

Lessons Learned: Pediatric Tele-Mental Health in a Rural Medical Center in the Age of SARS-CoV-2
Explores a study on the use of telemedicine to expand mental healthcare access to rural children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses implementation concerns such as a need to protect patient privacy and expand internet-based infrastructure.
Author(s): Komal Satti, Olutosin Ojugbele
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 260-262
Date: 01/2021
view details

The Importance of Video Visits in the Time of COVID-19
Highlights the importance of video-to-home telemedicine (VTH) for maintaining mental healthcare during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discusses the usefulness of VTH in expanding access to mental healthcare broadly, as well as some of the infrastructure-based limitations that currently exist.
Author(s): Jan A. Lindsay, Julianna B. Hogan, Anthony H. Ecker, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 242-245
Date: 01/2021
view details

Suicide in the Time of COVID-19: A Perfect Storm
Examines the risk of suicide in rural communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Looks at suicide rates in Kentucky and nationally and discusses how the COVID-19 pandemic could potentially increase those rates.
Author(s): Sabrina Brown, Donna L. Schuman
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 37(1), 211-214
Date: 01/2021
view details

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
view details

Using Technology-Based Therapeutic Tools in Behavioral Health Services
Report discusses the use of telehealth to provide behavioral health services. Explores the benefits of telehealth as a bridge to accessing behavioral healthcare and presents implementation guidance, such as state and licensing regulations and reimbursement considerations.
Date: 2021
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details

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
view details

Behavioral Health Barometer: United States, Volume 6
Provides a broad overview of behavioral health in the U.S. with an emphasis on illicit drug, alcohol, and tobacco use, as well as the estimated percentage of people living with serious mental illness. Breaks down data by demographic information, such as age, sex, and others, as well as by metro or nonmetro location. Data is from the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health and the National Survey of Substance Abuse Treatment Services.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
view details

Impacts of COVID-19 on Rural Mental Health
Presentation slides from an American Farm Bureau Federation poll of 2,000 rural adults in December 2020, comparing results to a similar April 2019 poll. Addresses perceived importance of mental health, issues of stigma, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health, barriers to care, and other mental health topics. Tracks response trends between 2019 and 2020, highlighting consistent aspects of the survey and changes in impressions and experiences.
Date: 12/2020
Sponsoring organization: American Farm Bureau Federation
view details

Promoting Access to Care for Women of Reproductive Age with Mental Health and Substance Use Disorders in Rural Communities
Report highlights the barriers to mental healthcare and substance use disorder treatment for rural women of reproductive age. Discusses continuity of care, access to medication-assisted treatment (MAT), and workforce shortages among other barriers. Presents recommendations, such as telehealth and care coordination, and provides program examples from different states.
Date: 11/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Georgia Health Policy Center
view details

Association of Rurality With Availability of Youth Mental Health Facilities With Suicide Prevention Services in the US
Presents a study on the availability of suicide prevention services for youths age 15-19 at mental health facilities in rural versus urban areas. Compares the rates of prevalence of mental health facilities, youth-serving mental health facilities, and youth-serving mental health facilities with suicide prevention programs by rural-urban continuum codes.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Demetrius A. Abshire, Jessica L. Mackelprang, et al.
Citation: JAMA Network Open, 3(10), e2021471
Date: 10/2020
view details