Rural Health
Resources by Topic: Mental health
Access and Quality of Mental Health Services in Rural and Urban America
Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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Research brief documenting recent trends in mental healthcare access and quality in urban and rural communities. Features state-level maps showing locations of mental health facilities, a county-level map with shadings showing driving distances to any mental health facility or access to telehealth, and statistics on ZIP code area demographics, with breakdowns by urban, large rural, and small rural area.
Author(s): Peiyin Hung, Sophia N.D. Negaro, Rachel M. Hantman, et al.
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: University of South Carolina Rural Health Research Center
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South Dakota Health Professional Shortage Areas: Mental Healthcare
South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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South Dakota map showing geographic, population, and automatic Mental Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSAs).
Date: 07/2025
Sponsoring organization: South Dakota Office of Rural Health
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From Crisis to Recovery: Health and Resilience Two Years After the Maui Wildfires
Reports on the impact of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the health, wellness, and life of people living in West Maui and Kula. Topics covered include mental health, physical health, access to healthcare, housing, employment, and social support. The associated dashboard provides data from the report in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Krit Phankitnirundorn, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Reports on the impact of the August 2023 Hawaii wildfires on the health, wellness, and life of people living in West Maui and Kula. Topics covered include mental health, physical health, access to healthcare, housing, employment, and social support. The associated dashboard provides data from the report in interactive form.
Additional links: Dashboard
Author(s): Ruben Juarez, Alika Maunakea, Krit Phankitnirundorn, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: The Economic Research Organization at the University of Hawai'i
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Assessing Older Adult Behavioral Health Diagnoses in Oregon by Geographical Area, Physical Disability Status, and Age
Analyzes rural and urban variations in behavioral health diagnoses among older adults in Oregon, utilizing 2017-2021 Oregon Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative data drawn from 5,123 consultation reports. Compares rural and urban diagnosis rates and behavioral health diagnosis types, with further data breakdowns for select demographics.
Author(s): N.F. Parsons, Allyson Stodola, Ellis Hews, et al.
Citation: Aging & Mental Health, 30(1), 167-175
Date: 06/2025
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Analyzes rural and urban variations in behavioral health diagnoses among older adults in Oregon, utilizing 2017-2021 Oregon Older Adult Behavioral Health Initiative data drawn from 5,123 consultation reports. Compares rural and urban diagnosis rates and behavioral health diagnosis types, with further data breakdowns for select demographics.
Author(s): N.F. Parsons, Allyson Stodola, Ellis Hews, et al.
Citation: Aging & Mental Health, 30(1), 167-175
Date: 06/2025
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Supporting Community Mental Health in Libraries: A Toolkit for Implementing Evidence-Based Approaches
Toolkit designed to help librarians identify and implement mental health supports within libraries to support their community members' mental well-being. Builds on findings from an implementation evaluation of from Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot program that embedded nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas.
Author(s): Amy L. Shearer, Ivy Todd, Karen Christianson, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Toolkit designed to help librarians identify and implement mental health supports within libraries to support their community members' mental well-being. Builds on findings from an implementation evaluation of from Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot program that embedded nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas.
Author(s): Amy L. Shearer, Ivy Todd, Karen Christianson, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Integrating Mental Health Support into Rural Libraries: Evaluation of the Libraries for Health (L4H) Initiative
Presents findings from an evaluation of the implementation of Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot project embedding nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas. Summarizes how libraries implemented L4H, barriers and facilitators of implementation, and efforts to to build and sustain the program and sustain their capacity to address patrons' mental health needs.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Lynsay Ayer, Karen Christianson, Ivy Todd, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Presents findings from an evaluation of the implementation of Libraries for Health (L4H), a pilot project embedding nonclinical adult mental health supports into ten libraries in rural Texas. Summarizes how libraries implemented L4H, barriers and facilitators of implementation, and efforts to to build and sustain the program and sustain their capacity to address patrons' mental health needs.
Additional links: Research Summary
Author(s): Lynsay Ayer, Karen Christianson, Ivy Todd, et al.
Date: 06/2025
Sponsoring organization: RAND Corporation
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Caregiving in Rural Areas: A Qualitative Study of Challenges and Resilience
Examines rural-specific challenges and strengths in caregiving, utilizing interview data of 18 rural-dwelling caregivers in Vermont. Discusses community-based factors influencing care, access to services, and rural identity, among other topics.
Author(s): Hyojin Choi, Christine Vatovec, Maija Reblin
Citation: PLOS One, 20(6), e0325536
Date: 06/2025
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Examines rural-specific challenges and strengths in caregiving, utilizing interview data of 18 rural-dwelling caregivers in Vermont. Discusses community-based factors influencing care, access to services, and rural identity, among other topics.
Author(s): Hyojin Choi, Christine Vatovec, Maija Reblin
Citation: PLOS One, 20(6), e0325536
Date: 06/2025
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Economic Factors Associated With County-Level Mental Health – United States, 2019
Explores the correlation between economic factors, such as household income, education, and supplemental income and nutritional support, and county-level mental health. Breaks down economic factors, such as employment, income and wealth, and expenses by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Michele L.F. Bolduc, Parya Saberi, Torsten B. Neilands, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(6), e0300939
Date: 06/2025
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Explores the correlation between economic factors, such as household income, education, and supplemental income and nutritional support, and county-level mental health. Breaks down economic factors, such as employment, income and wealth, and expenses by rural and urban location.
Author(s): Michele L.F. Bolduc, Parya Saberi, Torsten B. Neilands, et al.
Citation: PLoS One, 20(6), e0300939
Date: 06/2025
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Expanding a Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Fellowship to Support Rural and Underserved Pediatric Patients in the US
Discusses the structure and impacts of a Delaware nurse practitioner fellowship training program focused on providing mental health and primary care services in rural and underserved areas. Identifies challenges and lessons learned, and highlights the value of rural-specific training and education.
Author(s): Aaron Carpenter, Catherine Haut, Sarah E. Wawrzynski, Stacey Bachman, Lisa Kelly
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25, 9650
Date: 06/2025
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Discusses the structure and impacts of a Delaware nurse practitioner fellowship training program focused on providing mental health and primary care services in rural and underserved areas. Identifies challenges and lessons learned, and highlights the value of rural-specific training and education.
Author(s): Aaron Carpenter, Catherine Haut, Sarah E. Wawrzynski, Stacey Bachman, Lisa Kelly
Citation: Rural and Remote Health, 25, 9650
Date: 06/2025
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Geographic Disparities in Unpaid Caregiving
Presents a study examining the differences in the perceived health and well-being of unpaid caregivers between rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by caregiver demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and employment status, among others.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Monique J. Brown, Lorie Donelle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70039
Date: 06/2025
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Presents a study examining the differences in the perceived health and well-being of unpaid caregivers between rural and urban areas. Breaks down data by caregiver demographic characteristics, such as age, sex, and employment status, among others.
Author(s): Emma Kathryn Boswell, Monique J. Brown, Lorie Donelle, et al.
Citation: Journal of Rural Health, 41(2), e70039
Date: 06/2025
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