•  
  •  
 

Journal for Social Work Scholar-Practitioners

Abstract

Though the prevalence of mental health issues is similar in rural and urban areas, it has been found that those living in rural areas experience significant disparities related to mental health treatment. This qualitative study examined how professionals’ perceptions of barriers to mental health is a rural county in Texas. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with service providers across health, social service, and community settings. A thematic analysis of the data found that the county experienced a shortage of mental health providers, limited transportation, high out-of-pocket costs, gaps in insurance, and inconsistent broadband access, which could limit the effectiveness of telehealth. Participants also identified how stigma and uneven mental health literacy intersected with these institutional limitations, which shaped when and where individuals sought help. Findings suggest the importance of place-based responses that address workforce capacity, infrastructure limitations, and cross-system collaboration to improve mental health care access in rural communities.

Download

Included in

Social Work Commons

Share

COinS

Tell us how this article helped you.