Dissemination Audiences for Rural Mental Health Programs
Rural mental health programs may disseminate information for various reasons, such as raising awareness of mental health conditions, symptoms, and resources; reducing stigma; promoting enrollment in their program or other treatment options; or sharing program outcomes to justify sustained funding. Rural communities should identify intended audiences for program findings to help select the most appropriate strategies and partners for dissemination.
Key dissemination audiences for rural mental health programs include:
- Local, state, and federal legislators and policymakers
- Advocacy groups, such as the National Alliance on Mental Illness
- Rural health organizations, including the National Rural Health Association
- Local and state public health departments
- State Offices of Rural Health
- Local school boards and district-level leadership
- Mental health and primary care practitioners
- Faith leaders
- Shelters and organizations serving people experiencing homelessness
- Nonprofits and social service organizations
- Patients and their families
- Media
- Community members
- Law enforcement
- Correctional and detention facilities
- City leaders and councils
For more information, see Share Successes and Lessons Learned in our Rural Community Health Toolkit.