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Rural Mental Health – Resources

Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Mental Health.

Reducing Depressive Symptoms Through Behavioral Activation in Churches: A Hybrid-2 Randomized Effectiveness-Implementation Design
Details a study on an intervention partnering with churches to address depressive symptoms in rural African American communities. Details the stressors that commonly affect African Americans, the ways faith communities can offer support, and how church leaders can work with mental health professionals to improve mental health outcomes.
Author(s): Tiffany Haynes, Jerome Turner, Johnny Smith, et al.
Citation: Contemporary Clinical Trials, 64, 22-29
Date: 01/2018
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Trends and Characteristics of Occupational Suicide and Homicide in Farmers and Agriculture Workers, 1992–2010
Presents a study on rates of work-related suicide and homicide among farmworkers from 1992-2010. Breaks down rates by year and region, and compares farmworkers to other occupations.
Author(s): Wendy Ringgenberg, Corinne Peek-Asa, Kelley Donham, Marizen Ramirez
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 34(3), 246-253
Date: 2018
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Suicide Surveillance Strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native Communities
Features a report on suicide data collection strategies for American Indian and Alaska Native communities. Presents case studies from different tribal communities and supporting resources for each strategy discussed.
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Suicide Prevention Resource Center
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Rural Suicide: One California County's Fight to Save Lives
Series of articles exploring the causes for high rates of suicide in rural areas of Northern California, including Amador, Calaveras, and Mariposa counties. Topics include shortages of mental health professionals and the higher risk of suicide among veterans and in tribal communities.
Author(s): Sammy Caiola
Date: 2018
Sponsoring organization: Capital Public Radio
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Suicide Clusters Within American Indian and Alaska Native Communities: A Review of the Literature and Recommendations
Analyzes suicide clusters within American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations to develop recommendations to prevent and address suicide clusters within AI/AN communities. Discusses risk, developmental, and protective factors influencing likelihood that individuals will consider, attempt, or complete suicide.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
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Understanding the Impact of Suicide In Rural America
Analyzes suicide rates and the impact of suicide in rural areas, highlights suicide in tribal communities and suicide prevention among U.S. veterans. Covers state and federal prevention strategies and discusses recommendations for research and evaluation, and outreach, promotion, and awareness.
Date: 12/2017
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Committee on Rural Health and Human Services
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Rural Health Research Recap: Rural Behavioral Health
Summarizes key findings from the Rural Health Research Centers' most recent rural behavioral health projects. Discusses mental illness prevalence in rural areas, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) among rural children, access to behavioral health services in rural communities, and rural behavioral health interventions. Provides links to each of the referenced source documents.
Author(s): Shawnda Schroeder
Date: 11/2017
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Research Gateway
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Mental Health Best Practices with Kari Oyen
Kari Oyen, professor of School Psychology at the University of South Dakota, discusses mental health issues including suicidal behavior in rural America, the role played by school psychologists, and prevention services based on risk factors including single-parent homes, poverty, and poor attendance at school.
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organizations: Center for Rural Affairs, National Rural Education Association
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Suicide Trends Among and Within Urbanization Levels by Sex, Race/Ethnicity, Age Group, and Mechanism of Death — United States, 2001–2015
Reports on county-level trends in suicide rates during 2001–2015 for large metropolitan, medium/small metropolitan, and nonmetro counties. Includes data by sex and age group. Covers the mechanism of death, with data on firearms, hanging/suffocation, drug poisoning, non-drug poisoning, and other causes.
Author(s): Asha Z. Ivey-Stephenson, Alex E. Crosby, Shane P. D. Jack, Tadesse Haileyesus, Marcie-jo Kresnow-Sedacca
Citation: MMWR Surveillance Summaries, 66(18), 1-16
Date: 10/2017
Sponsoring organization: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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A Toolkit for Legislative Reform: Improving Criminal Justice Responses to Mental Illness in Rural States
Toolkit details methods to improve access to mental health treatment in rural communities through the criminal justice system. Presents options for state policy reform, using South Dakota's mental illness intervention law as a case study.
Author(s): Barbara A. Pierce
Date: 09/2017
Sponsoring organization: Crime and Justice Institute
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Last Updated: 11/26/2025