Rural Health
Research Gateway

Mental and behavioral health

Research Products & Journal Articles

Browse the full list of research publications on this topic completed by the Rural Health Research Centers.

Products – Freely accessible products include policy briefs, fact sheets, full reports, chartbooks, and interactive data websites.

Journal Articles – Articles in peer-reviewed journals may require a subscription or affiliation with a subscribing library. For these publications, Gateway lists the article citation, a brief summary, a link to additional information and access to the full-text of the article, if available.

2024

  • Trends in the Health Workforce Supply in the Rural U.S.
    Report
    WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 10/2024
    This report examines the availability of current and historical workforce data for a variety of health care professionals and provides estimates of the trends in the supply and distribution in the rural vs. urban U.S. workforce.
  • Discussions of Cancer Survivorship Care Needs: Are There Rural Versus Urban Inequities?
    Journal Article
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 05/2024
    This study used 2017 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data to test for rural versus urban inequities and identify other correlates of discussions about cancer survivorship care with health care professionals.
  • Housing for Rural Residents Recovering from Substance Use Disorders
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 05/2024
    The purpose of this case series is to highlight organizations providing housing for individuals in recovery from substance use disorders in rural communities. These may serve as examples to others considering this work.
  • Suicide Rates and Risks Across U.S. Industries: A 29-Year Population-Based Survey
    Journal Article
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2024
    Combining 29 years of U.S. suicide data using the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS)-Mortality Linked data from 1986 through 2014, with mortality follow-up through 2015, this study estimates suicide risks across industries in the U.S. working population.

2023

2022

2021

2020

2019

2018

  • Patterns of Telehealth Use Among Rural Medicaid Beneficiaries
    Journal Article
    Rural Telehealth Research Center
    Date: 10/2018
    This study uses data from the 2011 Medicaid Analytic eXtract (MAX) to examine the prevalence of telehealth use among rural and urban Medicaid beneficiaries, characteristics of telehealth users, types of telehealth services provided, and diagnoses associated with telehealth use.
  • Geographic Variation in the Supply of Selected Behavioral Health Providers
    Journal Article
    WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 06/2018
    This study examined the supply of select behavioral health providers by metropolitan, micropolitan, and non-core county and Census Division. Psychiatrists, psychologists, and psychiatric nurse practitioners are unequally distributed throughout the U.S., with disparities between Census Divisions and rural vs. urban areas.
  • Illicit Drug and Opioid Use Disorders Among Non-Metropolitan Residents
    Policy Brief
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2018
    We provide estimates of the prevalence of illicit drug and opioid use disorders among non-metropolitan adults ages 18-64. Prevalence rates did not decline from 2011-2013 to 2014-2015 despite the implementation of major substance use treatment policies. Of particular concern, heroin use disorder prevalence increased in recent years.
  • Perceived Treatment Need and Utilization for Illicit Drug and Opioid Use Disorders in Non-Metropolitan Areas
    Policy Brief
    Rural and Underserved Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2018
    The vast majority of non-metropolitan adults 18-64 who satisfy criteria for an illicit drug use or opioid use disorder do not perceive a need for treatment or receive formal substance use treatment. Despite policies to increase treatment access during the 2008-2015 study period, we found few changes in perceived treatment need and utilization.

2017

  • Barriers to Nursing Home Care for Nonelderly Rural Residents
    Journal Article
    University of Minnesota Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 12/2017
    This study uses data from 23 semi-structured interviews with rural hospital discharge planners in five states to identify specific barriers to finding nursing home care for nonelderly rural residents. We found three primary themes—payment status, fit, and medical complexity—as well as two minor themes—caregivers and bureaucratic processes.
  • Identifying Variability in Patient Characteristics and Prevalence of Emergency Department Utilization for Mental Health Diagnoses in Rural and Urban Communities
    Journal Article
    North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
    Date: 10/2017
    Patients needing behavioral healthcare can get more appropriate, cost-effective treatment if they are redirected from emergency departments (EDs). This study examined whether a larger proportion of rural versus urban patients went to went to EDs.
  • Barriers Rural Physicians Face Prescribing Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder
    Journal Article
    WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 07/2017
    Opioid use disorder is a serious public health problem. Management with buprenorphine is an effective medication-assisted treatment, but 60.1% of rural counties lack a physician with a Drug Enforcement Agency waiver to prescribe buprenorphine. This national study surveyed all rural physicians who have received a waiver in the United States.
  • Use of the Emergency Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse Among Women
    Fact Sheet
    North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
    Date: 07/2017
    This study identifies trends among women in rural and urban communities who utilize the emergency department for mental health and substance abuse. The information can be used to help communities provide more relevant, appropriate, and less costly care.
  • Rural and Urban Utilization of the Emergency Department for Mental Health and Substance Abuse
    Policy Brief
    North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
    Date: 06/2017
    Utilizes data from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project's (HCUP's) State Emergency Department Databases (SEDD) for seven states. Researchers explore, and describe in this brief, the use of the Emergency Department for mental health and substance abuse among Urban, Large Rural, Small Rural, and Isolated Small Rural residents.
  • Changes in the Supply of Physicians With a DEA DATA Waiver to Prescribe Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder
    Policy Brief
    WWAMI Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 05/2017
    This project mapped the location of physicians with a DEA DATA 2000 waiver to prescribe buprenorphine for opioid use disorder in July 2012 and April 2016. The number of counties without a waivered physician and the ratio of waivered physicians per 100,000 population is reported by the rural/urban status of the county.

2016

2014

  • The 2014 Update of the Rural-Urban Chartbook
    Chartbook
    North Dakota and NORC Rural Health Reform Policy Research Center
    Date: 10/2014
    This chartbook includes trends and disparities in urban/rural health. Reports on population characteristics include age, race and ethnicity, and poverty; risk factors such as smoking, alcohol use, and obesity; mortality data; health status measures such as adolescent births and total tooth loss; healthcare access/use; and mental health measures.
  • Implications of Rurality and Psychiatric Status for Diabetic Preventive Care Use Among Adults With Diabetes
    Policy Brief
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 05/2014
    This brief examines patterns of diabetic preventive care use among adults with diabetes to determine whether these patterns vary according to respondents' rural/urban residence or the presence/absence of a mental health diagnosis.

2013

  • Telemental Health in Today's Rural Health System
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 12/2013
    This policy brief describes the organizational setting, services provided, and staff used in 53 telemental rural health programs. It also outlines the opportunities and challenges for telemental health in the rural health system.
  • Challenges and Opportunities for Improving Mental Health Services in Rural Long-Term Care
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 06/2013
    This study explores practices for increasing the quality, quantity, and accessibility of mental health services in rural long-term care.
  • Patterns of Care for Rural and Urban Children With Mental Health Problems
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 06/2013
    This study reports that rural children are significantly less likely to be diagnosed and treated for non-ADHD mental health problems than urban children and are less likely to receive mental health counseling.
  • Rural Border Health Chartbook
    Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2013
    The chartbook examines potential geographic and ethnic disparities among U.S. border residents and describes select indicators related to access to care, women's preventive services, oral health, infectious and communicable diseases, and mental health that have been identified as disparities.
  • Rural Border Health Chartbook (Key Facts)
    Rural and Minority Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2013
    This report examines potential geographic and ethnic disparities among U.S. border residents and describes select indicators related to access to care, women's preventive services, oral health, infectious and communicable diseases, and mental health that have been identified as disparities.

2010

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2002

2001

  • Addressing Mental Health Workforce Needs in Underserved Rural Areas: Accomplishments and Challenges
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 10/2001
    This study reviews efforts to address mental health workforce needs in rural areas and addresses the questions: How is workforce adequacy measured? How do characteristics of communities and the mental health service delivery system challenge methods for determining workforce adequacy? What role has government played in addressing workforce needs?
  • Admission Severity and Mortality Rates Among Rural and Urban Nursing Facility Residents With Dementia (Research & Policy Brief)
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 09/2001
    This brief assesses whether the potentially higher use of nursing facility services in rural communities can be tied to differences in use patterns by older adults with dementia. Specifically, it addresses whether residents with dementia are less impaired at the time of their admission to a nursing facility than urban residents with dementia.
  • Medicaid Managed Behavioral Health Programs in Rural Areas
    Policy Brief
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 08/2001
    This research and policy brief studies which states have implemented Medicaid-managed behavioral health programs in rural areas. It describes the programs in terms of Medicaid populations served, program design, and implementation model and the experience of programs regarding access to/coordination of services.
  • Medicaid Managed Behavioral Health in Rural Areas
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 01/2001
    This study of which states have implemented Medicaid managed behavioral health (MMBH) programs in rural areas describes these programs in terms of Medicaid populations served, program design, and implementation model. It also describes the experience of programs regarding access to and coordination of services.

1996

  • Integrating Primary Care and Mental Health Services: Current Practices in Rural Areas
    Maine Rural Health Research Center
    Date: 1996
    This publication provides information on models for integrating mental health services in rural community health centers, viability of linkages between primary care and mental health providers, resources available, reimbursement, treatment philosophy, diversification, referral, and enhancement.

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