Rural Mental Health – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Mental Health.
Pain in the Nation 2024: The Epidemics of Alcohol, Drug, and Suicide Deaths
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Brandon Reavis
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
view details
Report focuses on alcohol, drug, and mortality statistics and trends, with a special feature on polysubstance use and drug overdose issues. Includes data on substance use and mortality, with U.S. maps showing overdose and suicide rates, breakdowns according to metro versus nonmetro location, and state-by-state statistical trends. Provides policy recommendations to address substance use and offers examples from rural areas.
Author(s): Molly Warren, Brandon Reavis
Date: 07/2024
Sponsoring organization: Trust for America's Health
view details
Prescription Opioid Tapering Practices and Outcomes at a Rural VA Health Care System
Presents a study on the clinical characteristics of rural veterans using opioids for chronic pain and undergoing opioid tapering. Breaks down data on outcomes from tapering for rural veterans who were taking 90 Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD) or more. Highlights common tapering outcomes, such as increased pain, suicidal ideation, and other withdrawal symptoms.
Author(s): Rena Elizabeth Courtney, Emily Halsey, Tanvi Patil, et al.
Citation: Pain Medicine, 25(7), 480-482
Date: 07/2024
view details
Presents a study on the clinical characteristics of rural veterans using opioids for chronic pain and undergoing opioid tapering. Breaks down data on outcomes from tapering for rural veterans who were taking 90 Morphine Equivalent Daily Dose (MEDD) or more. Highlights common tapering outcomes, such as increased pain, suicidal ideation, and other withdrawal symptoms.
Author(s): Rena Elizabeth Courtney, Emily Halsey, Tanvi Patil, et al.
Citation: Pain Medicine, 25(7), 480-482
Date: 07/2024
view details
Risk Factors for Poor Health Among U.S. Older Adults in Rural and Urban Areas: Injury, Food Insecurity, and Lack of Social and Emotional Support
Examines health and well-being in older adults by focusing on rural versus urban variations in injury, food insecurity, and lack of social and emotional support. Provides data breakdowns by demographics, employment, income, marital status, education, and more.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Alexis Swendener, Megan Lahr, Alyssa Fritz, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
Examines health and well-being in older adults by focusing on rural versus urban variations in injury, food insecurity, and lack of social and emotional support. Provides data breakdowns by demographics, employment, income, marital status, education, and more.
Author(s): Ingrid Jacobson, Alexis Swendener, Megan Lahr, Alyssa Fritz, Carrie Henning-Smith
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
view details
National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps Meeting Agenda, June 25-26, 2024
Agenda and meeting materials for the June 25-26, 2024 meeting, including workgroup reports and presentations on school mental health resource and training centers, school-based health centers in greater Cincinnati, and integration of behavioral health services in school-based primary care clinics.
Additional links: Integration of Behavioral Health Services in School-Based Primary Care Clinics, Meet Your School Mental Health Resource & Training Center, School-Based Health Centers In Greater Cincinnati
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps
view details
Agenda and meeting materials for the June 25-26, 2024 meeting, including workgroup reports and presentations on school mental health resource and training centers, school-based health centers in greater Cincinnati, and integration of behavioral health services in school-based primary care clinics.
Additional links: Integration of Behavioral Health Services in School-Based Primary Care Clinics, Meet Your School Mental Health Resource & Training Center, School-Based Health Centers In Greater Cincinnati
Date: 06/2024
Sponsoring organization: National Advisory Council on the National Health Service Corps
view details
Identifying Challenges and Solutions for Improving Access to Mental Health Services for Rural Youth: Insights from Adult Community Members
Presents a study on the barriers to accessing mental healthcare for rural youth in Washington State. Bases finding on interviews with community members, parents, teachers, and healthcare providers and discusses ways to overcome perceived barriers.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Demetrius A. Abshire, Elissa Koontz, Jessica L. Mackelprang
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 725
Date: 06/2024
view details
Presents a study on the barriers to accessing mental healthcare for rural youth in Washington State. Bases finding on interviews with community members, parents, teachers, and healthcare providers and discusses ways to overcome perceived barriers.
Author(s): Janessa M. Graves, Demetrius A. Abshire, Elissa Koontz, Jessica L. Mackelprang
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 725
Date: 06/2024
view details
A Comparison Between Farm-Related Stress, Mental Health, and Social Support Between Men and Women Farmers
Highlights a study on the differences in farm-related stress, mental health, and social support for men and women farmers. Discusses the survey-based screening of farmers in Illinois for mental health conditions of men and women farmers and compares rates to each other and to the general population.
Author(s): Josie M. Rudolphi, Courtney Cuthbertson, Amandeep Kaur, Jesus Sarol
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 684
Date: 05/2024
view details
Highlights a study on the differences in farm-related stress, mental health, and social support for men and women farmers. Discusses the survey-based screening of farmers in Illinois for mental health conditions of men and women farmers and compares rates to each other and to the general population.
Author(s): Josie M. Rudolphi, Courtney Cuthbertson, Amandeep Kaur, Jesus Sarol
Citation: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 21(6), 684
Date: 05/2024
view details
Place-Based Strengths and Vulnerabilities for Mental Wellness Among Rural Minority Older Adults: An Intervention Development Study Protocol
Presents a study on access to mental healthcare for older minorities in rural areas. Explores some of the barriers specific to racial and ethnic minorities in rural areas. Uses data as the basis for an intervention focused on place-based disparities in depression.
Author(s): Elise Trott Jaramillo
Citation: BMJ Open, 14(6), e088348
Date: 05/2024
view details
Presents a study on access to mental healthcare for older minorities in rural areas. Explores some of the barriers specific to racial and ethnic minorities in rural areas. Uses data as the basis for an intervention focused on place-based disparities in depression.
Author(s): Elise Trott Jaramillo
Citation: BMJ Open, 14(6), e088348
Date: 05/2024
view details
Legacy - Mental Health in Colorado's Modern Day Agriculture
Documentary film covering mental health among farmers and ranchers and their families in Colorado. Highlights a collaboration with Colorado's Farm Bureau and discusses some of the struggles and efforts to destigmatize mental health among the agricultural community.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Department of Agriculture
view details
Documentary film covering mental health among farmers and ranchers and their families in Colorado. Highlights a collaboration with Colorado's Farm Bureau and discusses some of the struggles and efforts to destigmatize mental health among the agricultural community.
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Colorado Department of Agriculture
view details
Rural Mental Health: Challenges & Opportunities
Webinar recording discusses barriers to rural mental health access and offers strategies for overcoming those barriers. Presents Kansas and Missouri as examples. Details unintentional injury fatalities in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Angie Schindler-Berg
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network
view details
Webinar recording discusses barriers to rural mental health access and offers strategies for overcoming those barriers. Presents Kansas and Missouri as examples. Details unintentional injury fatalities in metro versus nonmetro areas.
Author(s): Angie Schindler-Berg
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: Mental Health Technology Transfer Center Network
view details
Utah Latina/o/x Suicide Decedents Less Likely to Die by Firearm, Even in Rural Areas: Examining Population-wide Data From the Utah Office of the Medical Examiner
Highlights a study on the firearm-based suicide rate among Latina/o/x populations in rural areas. Explores the rate of rural people of Latina/o/x ethnicity who commit suicide by firearm and the percentage of rural people who commit suicide by firearm who are of Latina/o/x ethnicity.
Author(s): Douglas Tharp, Evan V. Goldstein, Richard M. Medina, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12
Date: 04/2024
view details
Highlights a study on the firearm-based suicide rate among Latina/o/x populations in rural areas. Explores the rate of rural people of Latina/o/x ethnicity who commit suicide by firearm and the percentage of rural people who commit suicide by firearm who are of Latina/o/x ethnicity.
Author(s): Douglas Tharp, Evan V. Goldstein, Richard M. Medina, et al.
Citation: Frontiers in Public Health, 12
Date: 04/2024
view details
Additional resources are available related to this guide. See the full list of resources by topic for:
- Behavioral health
- Behavioral health workforce
- Mental health
- Mental health conditions
- Suicide and suicide prevention
Last Updated: 7/25/2025

