Title: Rural Mental Health Introduction - Rural Health Information Hub
Headings: Rural Mental Health
Rural Mental Health
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I find mental health statistics for rural populations?
What are the workforce challenges in providing rural mental health services?
What other challenges affect access and the provision of mental health services in rural areas?
Reimbursement
Stigma
What can a rural community or healthcare facility do to minimize the challenges of accessing and providing  mental health services in a rural area?
What are some of the benefits of integration of mental health services into primary care in a rural  community?
Is there a resource for rural primary care providers and other healthcare professionals that can connect  patients to mental health services and treatment?
Where can rural veterans and rural healthcare providers assisting veterans find information about mental health  services in their rural areas?
What is the impact of suicide in rural America?
Suicide Deaths and Rates — United States, 2013–2015
How can our community take action to prevent suicides?
What resources are available for suicide prevention efforts?
How can our school take action to prevent suicides?
More on this Topic

Content: notes that Rural Health  Clinics may be reluctant to start providing mental health services when reimbursement rates are low. In  addition, high no-show rates among mental health clients and high numbers of uninsured patients further  exacerbate the issue of low reimbursement rates paid by Medicaid and others. Providing mental health services via telehealth, sometimes referred to as telemental health or telebehavioral  health, has shown promise in helping to alleviate the lack of mental health services in rural areas. However,  reimbursement is also a challenge for telehealth services. For additional information about telehealth services  and associated reimbursement issues see RHIhub's Telehealth Use in Rural  Healthcare topic guide. Stigma
Nearly 1 in 5 adults in the U.S. experiences a mental disorder within any given year according to the National Alliance on  Mental Illness. Yet, the misconceptions, myths, and cultural stigma associated with mental illness are  significant barriers that keep people with mental disorders from seeking and receiving treatment in rural areas. Factors that may influence rural residents to avoid seeking care include such issues as: Lack of understanding and knowledge of mental illness, sometimes even among healthcare staff
Prejudice or stigma towards people with mental health disorders, often based on fear and unease
Secrecy about mental illness in the community and general hesitancy to seek care
Perception of a lack of confidentiality and privacy in small towns with closely-tied social networks
While there are drawbacks to small communities when it comes to mental health, there are positives as well. The  close-knit nature of rural communities can also mean that residents are more likely to rally around each other  and provide community support in times of need.