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Rural Health Information Hub
Rural Health Information Hub

Rural Health
News by Topic: Behavioral health

Jun 10, 2024 - The USDA Rural Housing Service is accepting applications for the Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI) for fiscal year 2024. RCDI provides funding for private, nonprofit, and public intermediary organizations to support housing, community facilities, and community and economic development projects in rural areas. Applications that will assist rural communities reduce climate pollution and increase resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support, ensure rural residents have equitable access to Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development funded projects, and assist rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure are encouraged. Electronic applications are due by July 10, 2024, and paper applications must be received by July 15, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
Related funding: Rural Community Development Initiative (RCDI)
Jun 6, 2024 - Highlights a shortage of psychiatrists and mental health services in rural north Florida. Discusses services offered by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), which reaches rural populations through a variety of free online support groups. Explores additional efforts to increase access to services in rural areas, including the integration of mental health services into primary care and a nonprofit clinic network staffed by psychiatric nurse practitioners.
Source: WCTV
Jun 5, 2024 - Interview with South Dakota USDA Rural Development Director and the Executive Director of Lewis & Clark Behavioral Health. Describes the construction of a new behavioral health facility in Yankton, SD. Notes barriers to improved mental health among rural populations including stigma and lack of access to services.
Source: South Dakota Public Broadcasting
Jun 4, 2024 - Profiles patients and staff at a Rural Health Clinic in Elberton, Georgia. Describes ongoing challenges in accessing care such as lack of transportation, and highlights the growing need for mental health services.
Source: NPR
May 31, 2024 - Features a harm reduction program serving residents of Alaska's rural Kenai Peninsula. Explores strategies for making services, including syringe exchange and opioid-overdose treatment distribution, accessible to remote populations.
Source: Alaska Public Media, PBS, NPR
May 30, 2024 - Notice from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announcing its intent to implement Joseph Maxwell Cleland and Robert Joseph Dole Memorial Veterans Benefits and Health Care Improvement Act of 2022, which prohibits the collection of copayments for the first three mental health care outpatient visits of a Veteran in a calendar year for which the Veteran would otherwise be required to pay a copayment. The copayment exemption for the first three outpatient mental health care visits includes appointments completed in VA clinics as well as those conducted by community care providers. The implementation of the copayment exemption will be applicable upon the publication of modifications to the VA regulations to comply with this law.
Source: Federal Register
May 29, 2024 - Notice of proposed rule from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) proposing to require wireless carriers to implement one or more georouting solutions for calls to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline to ensure that calls are routed based on the geographic location for the origin of the call, rather than the area code and exchange associated with a wireless phone. The FCC also seeks comment on a variety of issues related to the implementation of a georouting solution for wireless calls, non-wireless calls, and text messages to the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Comments are due by June 28, 2024. Reply comments are due by July 29, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 29, 2024 - Features the perspective of a psychologist on the factors contributing to mental health issues among farmers. Discusses barriers to care, best practices for providers, and essential resources for support.
Source: Sanford Health
May 28, 2024 - Notice from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) seeking comments on a proposed information collection titled "Needle Exchange Utilization Survey (NEXUS)." The purpose of NEXUS is to develop a surveillance system to monitor drug use, prevention behaviors, and the infectious disease consequences of drug use in select urban and non-urban areas of the U.S. impacted by the opioid crisis. Comments are due by July 29, 2024.
Source: Federal Register
May 28, 2024 - Covers the launch of a harm reduction vending machine serving residents of Delaware County, Oklahoma. Discusses concerns from some local residents and efforts by providers to address misconceptions around addiction.
Source: Public Radio Tulsa