Rural Mental Health – Resources
Selected recent or important resources focusing on Rural Mental Health.
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
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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
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Task Force on Maternal Mental Health: National Strategy to Improve Maternal Mental Health Care
Offers 5 recommendations for improving maternal mental health and associated substance use disorders using a whole-government approach by building infrastructure to improve care. Recommendations discuss federal collaboration, accessibility of care, data gathering, prevention strategies, and engaging those with lived experience. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Offers 5 recommendations for improving maternal mental health and associated substance use disorders using a whole-government approach by building infrastructure to improve care. Recommendations discuss federal collaboration, accessibility of care, data gathering, prevention strategies, and engaging those with lived experience. Discusses rural throughout.
Date: 05/2024
Sponsoring organizations: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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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
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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
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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
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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
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National Strategy for Suicide Prevention
Report highlights the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) 10-year government-wide suicide prevention strategy. Features a 15-goal plan covering community-based suicide prevention; treatment and crisis services; surveillance, quality improvement, and research; and health equity in suicide prevention. Discusses rural populations and the barriers to suicide prevention in rural areas.
Additional links: Federal Action Plan
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Report highlights the Department of Health and Human Services' (HHS) 10-year government-wide suicide prevention strategy. Features a 15-goal plan covering community-based suicide prevention; treatment and crisis services; surveillance, quality improvement, and research; and health equity in suicide prevention. Discusses rural populations and the barriers to suicide prevention in rural areas.
Additional links: Federal Action Plan
Date: 04/2024
Sponsoring organization: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
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Risk Factors and Health Behaviors Associated With Loneliness Among Cancer Survivors During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Explores loneliness as a driver of negative health outcomes among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breaks down data by age, cancer type, living situation, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Elena S Aßmann, Jennifer Ose, Cassandra A Hathaway, et al.
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 47, 405-421
Date: 02/2024
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Explores loneliness as a driver of negative health outcomes among cancer survivors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Breaks down data by age, cancer type, living situation, and rural versus urban location, among other measures.
Author(s): Elena S Aßmann, Jennifer Ose, Cassandra A Hathaway, et al.
Citation: Journal of Behavioral Medicine, 47, 405-421
Date: 02/2024
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Geographic Variation, Economic Activity, and Labor Market Characteristics in Trajectories of Suicide in the United States, 2008–2020
Presents a study exploring the associations between economic and labor activity and rurality with changes in suicide rates from 2008-2015. Creates county-level economic categories based on economy type and metropolitan status while breaking down the data by age and firearm involvement.
Author(s): Katherine M Keyes, Sasikiran Kandula, Gonzalo Martinez-Ales, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 193(2), 256–266
Date: 02/2024
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Presents a study exploring the associations between economic and labor activity and rurality with changes in suicide rates from 2008-2015. Creates county-level economic categories based on economy type and metropolitan status while breaking down the data by age and firearm involvement.
Author(s): Katherine M Keyes, Sasikiran Kandula, Gonzalo Martinez-Ales, et al.
Citation: American Journal of Epidemiology, 193(2), 256–266
Date: 02/2024
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An 'Unseen' Struggle: Addressing Hoarding Disorder in Rural Communities
Discusses the challenges of identifying and addressing hoarding disorder in rural areas, as well as the impact it can have on the ability to age in place. Highlights resources and strategies that can be effective in rural areas to help address this issue.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Discusses the challenges of identifying and addressing hoarding disorder in rural areas, as well as the impact it can have on the ability to age in place. Highlights resources and strategies that can be effective in rural areas to help address this issue.
Author(s): Gretel Kauffman
Citation: Rural Monitor
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: Rural Health Information Hub
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Recent Trends in Mental Health and Substance Use Concerns Among Adolescents
Report highlights the state of adolescent mental health and substance use across the country. Breaks down rates of suicides, drug use, drug-related deaths, and other behavioral health issues by race, sex, and sexual orientation, as well as by rurality.
Author(s): Nirmita Panchal, Robin Rudowitz, Cynthia Cox
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Report highlights the state of adolescent mental health and substance use across the country. Breaks down rates of suicides, drug use, drug-related deaths, and other behavioral health issues by race, sex, and sexual orientation, as well as by rurality.
Author(s): Nirmita Panchal, Robin Rudowitz, Cynthia Cox
Date: 02/2024
Sponsoring organization: KFF
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Exploring Telemental Health Practice Before, During, and After the COVID-19 Pandemic
Presents a study on the use of telemedicine by mental health providers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the expansion of telemental health during the pandemic and how that expansion has continued in the aftermath. Breaks down data by patient and provider characteristics, as well as the rurality of providers and of the area served.
Author(s): Demi Zhu, Samantha R Paige, Henry Slone, et al.
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 30(1), 72-78
Date: 01/2024
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Presents a study on the use of telemedicine by mental health providers since the COVID-19 pandemic. Highlights the expansion of telemental health during the pandemic and how that expansion has continued in the aftermath. Breaks down data by patient and provider characteristics, as well as the rurality of providers and of the area served.
Author(s): Demi Zhu, Samantha R Paige, Henry Slone, et al.
Citation: Journal of Telemedicine and Telecare, 30(1), 72-78
Date: 01/2024
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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: 4/10/2025