MENTAL-HEALTH-SERVICES FOR RURAL CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS

Rural children and adolescents have rates of mental disorders comparable to metropolitan youth, but face additional barriers to effective delivery of mental health care that are unique to rural areas. These barriers include transportation, communication, laws, and attitudinal issues that affect the process and structure of mental health services for rural youth. In addition, the recruitment and retention of trained professionals continues to plague mental health organizations that serve children and adolescents in rural areas. Rural communities and providers have responded by changing the structure and organization of mental health services for youth, relying more often on federal and state dollars, and focusing on noncategorical and preventive services. Rural communities have also relied more heavily on alternative types of providers for mental health services for children and adolescents while increasing efforts to retain current providers. The effectiveness of the adaptations used by rural mental health organizations is largely unknown, although most children and adolescents with mental disorders in rural areas do not receive adequate mental health services.