Understanding Rural Mental Health and Service Utilization

Mental health care professionals at both the policy and practice levels must understand the varying mental health care needs of the populations they serve. This article considers geographic location an important factor in the perception of one's need for professional help for psychological problems and one's ability to access such services. A review of the current literature reveals that the prevalence rates of mental disorders do not differ significantly between rural and urban populations. However, numerous studies find that persons living in rural areas are using mental health care services at much lower rates than their urban counterparts. In this article, the issue of barriers to seeking mental health care services in rural areas is addressed and consideration is made regarding both the physical and mental obstacles that one may have to overcome in his or her treatment-seeking episode. I offer suggestions and highlight opportunities for mental health care professionals to take an active role in contributing to the improvement of mental health care services in rural areas. An understanding of mental health and service utilization in rural communities will enable mental health care professionals to develop effective policy and deliver services to meet the needs of rural residents who are suffering from a mental illness.