Name
Course
Instructor
May, 2024
Nursfpx 6008 assessment 1
, Mental Health Access in Rural Areas
Mental health care inequity in rural regions of the United States is a major health care
economic issue caused by the scarcity of providers, inadequate insurance, stigmatization and
geographical impassability (Modi et al., 2022). These disparities mean that the affected
communities go without treatment for mental health illnesses including substance use issues as
well as anxiety and depression, with a higher likelihood of suicide, increased emergency room
visits and hospitalizations, and overall costs related to disability and lost wages. Consequently,
stress and mental health issues are more pronounced in rural agricultural communities because of
the labor intensity of the farming activities they undertake and economic insecurity resulting
from fluctuating prices of agricultural produce and unpredictable markets (Younker &
Radunovich, 2021). Some of the proposed strategies include increasing the use of telemedicine,
strengthening health human capital through education and retraining of mental health
practitioners, promoting the use of primary care/mental health integration systems, supporting
community mental health initiatives, and ensuring policies that increase funding and insurance
for Mental health workers in rural areas (Lim et al., 2024). It is therefore important that all these
barriers are tackled in order to reduce mental health disparities, ease financial pressures and
improve the quality of life in rural communities.
In the USA, it was revealed that there is a significant challenge in accessing specialty
mental health care for persons living in rural areas (Kepley et al., 2018). It was estimated that
about sixty five percent of counties in the rural areas do not have psychiatrists (Andrilla et al.,
2018); more than sixty percent of rural Americans live in the shortage areas for mental health
provider (Stewart, 2018). Mental health specialty services are limited in rural communities,
which could explain why these disparities persist (Cheesmond et al, 2019).
Course
Instructor
May, 2024
Nursfpx 6008 assessment 1
, Mental Health Access in Rural Areas
Mental health care inequity in rural regions of the United States is a major health care
economic issue caused by the scarcity of providers, inadequate insurance, stigmatization and
geographical impassability (Modi et al., 2022). These disparities mean that the affected
communities go without treatment for mental health illnesses including substance use issues as
well as anxiety and depression, with a higher likelihood of suicide, increased emergency room
visits and hospitalizations, and overall costs related to disability and lost wages. Consequently,
stress and mental health issues are more pronounced in rural agricultural communities because of
the labor intensity of the farming activities they undertake and economic insecurity resulting
from fluctuating prices of agricultural produce and unpredictable markets (Younker &
Radunovich, 2021). Some of the proposed strategies include increasing the use of telemedicine,
strengthening health human capital through education and retraining of mental health
practitioners, promoting the use of primary care/mental health integration systems, supporting
community mental health initiatives, and ensuring policies that increase funding and insurance
for Mental health workers in rural areas (Lim et al., 2024). It is therefore important that all these
barriers are tackled in order to reduce mental health disparities, ease financial pressures and
improve the quality of life in rural communities.
In the USA, it was revealed that there is a significant challenge in accessing specialty
mental health care for persons living in rural areas (Kepley et al., 2018). It was estimated that
about sixty five percent of counties in the rural areas do not have psychiatrists (Andrilla et al.,
2018); more than sixty percent of rural Americans live in the shortage areas for mental health
provider (Stewart, 2018). Mental health specialty services are limited in rural communities,
which could explain why these disparities persist (Cheesmond et al, 2019).
