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Perspectives on Supporting Youth Mental Health in Rural Communities

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Title: Perspectives on Supporting Youth Mental Health in Rural Communities
Language: English
Authors: Tory L. Ash (ORCID 0000-0002-9338-1310), Anne E. Bowen, Sophia Chleborad, Gina Bednarek, Eliza Godfrey, Emily Norman, Meghan McGinley, Caleb E. Flack, Andy Garbacz
Source: Grantee Submission. 2025.
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 12
Publication Date: 2025
Sponsoring Agency: Institute of Education Sciences (ED)
Contract Number: R305B200026
Document Type: Reports - Research
Descriptors: Rural Areas, Mental Health, Social Bias, Barriers, Intervention, Caregivers, School Personnel, Allied Health Personnel, Children, Adolescents, Students with Disabilities, Student Needs, Services, Access to Health Care, School Health Services
Geographic Terms: Wisconsin
DOI: 10.1037/rmh0000300
Abstract: Research suggests a high prevalence of mental health challenges among youth from rural school districts (Moore & Walton, 2013), who represent 24% of the nation's students (Blackstock et al., 2018). Despite these high prevalence rates, many youth from rural areas experience additional challenges in accessing mental health services; more than 50% of youth do not receive adequate services to address their mental health concerns (van Vulpen et al., 2018). The present study used a community-engaged and participatory approach to center the voices of those living and working in rural communities within a Midwestern state to better understand their perspectives on mental health care. Specifically, we conducted focus groups and utilized thematic analysis guided by design thinking to synthesize commonalities across the experiences of caregivers, school professionals, and mental health professionals regarding youth mental health within rural communities. Themes were (a) robust wrap-around services; (b) targeting high-need youth and families; (c) structural barriers and potential solutions; (d) stigma, mental health literacy, and community resilience; and (e) enhancing services for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Study findings suggest the importance of a school-community integrated approach to promote youth mental health in rural communities. A hybrid in-person and online approach may be an optimal balance for addressing a limited number of providers. Study limitations, practical implications, and future research directions are discussed. [This is the online first version of an article published in "Journal of Rural Mental Health" (ISSN 1935-942X).]
Abstractor: As Provided
IES Funded: Yes
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED681296
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Perspectives on Supporting Youth Mental Health in Rural Communities
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Tory+L%2E+Ash%22">Tory L. Ash</searchLink> (ORCID <externalLink term="https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9338-1310">0000-0002-9338-1310</externalLink>)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Anne+E%2E+Bowen%22">Anne E. Bowen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sophia+Chleborad%22">Sophia Chleborad</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gina+Bednarek%22">Gina Bednarek</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Eliza+Godfrey%22">Eliza Godfrey</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Emily+Norman%22">Emily Norman</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Meghan+McGinley%22">Meghan McGinley</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Caleb+E%2E+Flack%22">Caleb E. Flack</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Andy+Garbacz%22">Andy Garbacz</searchLink>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Grantee+Submission%22"><i>Grantee Submission</i></searchLink>. 2025.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wisconsin%22">Wisconsin</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
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  Data: 10.1037/rmh0000300
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
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  Data: Research suggests a high prevalence of mental health challenges among youth from rural school districts (Moore & Walton, 2013), who represent 24% of the nation's students (Blackstock et al., 2018). Despite these high prevalence rates, many youth from rural areas experience additional challenges in accessing mental health services; more than 50% of youth do not receive adequate services to address their mental health concerns (van Vulpen et al., 2018). The present study used a community-engaged and participatory approach to center the voices of those living and working in rural communities within a Midwestern state to better understand their perspectives on mental health care. Specifically, we conducted focus groups and utilized thematic analysis guided by design thinking to synthesize commonalities across the experiences of caregivers, school professionals, and mental health professionals regarding youth mental health within rural communities. Themes were (a) robust wrap-around services; (b) targeting high-need youth and families; (c) structural barriers and potential solutions; (d) stigma, mental health literacy, and community resilience; and (e) enhancing services for culturally and linguistically diverse populations. Study findings suggest the importance of a school-community integrated approach to promote youth mental health in rural communities. A hybrid in-person and online approach may be an optimal balance for addressing a limited number of providers. Study limitations, practical implications, and future research directions are discussed. [This is the online first version of an article published in "Journal of Rural Mental Health" (ISSN 1935-942X).]
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  Data: 2026
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        Value: 10.1037/rmh0000300
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 12
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Rural Areas
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Mental Health
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Social Bias
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Barriers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
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      – SubjectFull: Caregivers
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      – SubjectFull: Allied Health Personnel
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      – SubjectFull: Adolescents
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      – SubjectFull: School Health Services
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      – SubjectFull: Wisconsin
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      – TitleFull: Perspectives on Supporting Youth Mental Health in Rural Communities
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              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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