Accurate measures of childhood vulnerability to mental health problems can help guide public policy that allocates resources for mental health care to specific populations, including funding and human resources allocated to rural community mental health centers. This study will add to the current knowledge of unmet mental health need for rural children, using data from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). The 2001 NHIS included, in addition to questions concerning diagnosed mental health problems, administration of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). The SDQ detects subclinical mental health problems, including emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactive behavior, peer relationship difficulties, and lack of prosocial behavior. This study will examine the prevalence of subclinical mental health problems in rural children, assess risk factors associated with problems in children, and assess the influence of local provider availability on healthcare provider contact.

Publications

• Mental Health Risk Factors, Unmet Needs, and Provider Availability for Rural Children
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 09/2005
  This study used the 2001 National Health Interview Survey to assess the prevalence of sub-clinical mental health problems among children, the degree to which children with potential problems use mental health and general providers for these problems, and the degree of unmet need.
• Mental Health Risk Factors, Unmet Needs, and Provider Availability for Rural Children (Fact Sheet)
  Fact Sheet
  Rural and Minority Health Research Center
  Date: 2005
  Children in rural areas have fewer mental health resources available. To assess the need for services among rural children, they studied information from the 2001 National Health Interview Survey. Possible mental health problems were identified based on the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire.