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Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Mental Health – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Mental Health.

Mental Health Systems Solutions Explorer
Interactive tool offering evidence-based solutions to increase mental healthcare utilization, increase access to care, and establish a continuum of care. Contains examples of each solution in practice. Solutions can be filtered to view those specifically of interest to rural communities.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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How to Transform the U.S. Mental Health System: Evidence-based Recommendations
Discusses evidence-based strategies to promote mental healthcare utilization, improve access to care, and establish a continuum of care. Offers 15 recommendations to improve mental healthcare, including policies regarding reimbursement, workforce growth, and digital and telehealth services, among other topics. Includes rural references throughout.
Additional links: Full Report, Research Brief: Transforming Mental Health Care in the United States
Author(s): Ryan K. McBain, Nicole K. Eberhart, Joshua Breslau, et al.
Date: 01/2021
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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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
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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
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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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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
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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
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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
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American Indian Addendum for the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices
Highlights suicide prevention guidance for primary care providers in tribal communities. Accompanies the Suicide Prevention Toolkit for Primary Care Practices and provides information specific to American Indian and Alaska Native populations. Includes risk assessment and intervention information on suicide prevention strategies in tribal settings.
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organizations: Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education
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Telebehavioral Health: An Effective Alternative to In-Person Care
Issue brief discussing telehealth treatment modalities based on a 2019 review of clinical outcomes related to telebehavioral health. Covers three state-level approaches: the Portland Veterans Affairs Medical Center Rural Telemental Health Program (VA RTMH), which serves rural Oregon veterans, and Medicaid policies in Texas and Massachusetts. Addresses telebehavioral health policy details, implementation, and considerations for states looking to develop new telebehavioral health policies during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Author(s): Brittany Lazur, Lily Sobolik, Valerie King
Date: 10/2020
Sponsoring organization: Milbank Memorial Fund
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Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for: