Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #113042

Elaine T. Jurkowski, PhD, School of Social Work, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Quigley 4, M/C 4329, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, Carbondale, IL 62901, (618) 453-2243, etjurkow@siu.edu and Tsukasa Okino, Department of Health Education, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, M/C 4329, Carbondale, IL 62901.

The U.S. Surgeon General (1999) suggests that disability due to mental illness in individuals over 65 will become a major public health problem in the near future because of demographic changes. The isolated nature of many rural communities exacerbates this public health issue. This study examined the perception and impact of mental health services from the vantage point of the aged consumer within a number of rural communities. This Health Belief Model (HBM) used as a theoretical framework helped identify the benefits of the service delivery process, and to identify barriers to service utilization. A survey questionnaire administered face to face using six randomly selected senior nutrition sites to secure a sample of 187 subjects. Descriptive statistics, chi square, t-tests and ANOVA were used in the analysis. Findings suggest that there are many misconceptions about what constitutes mental health versus mental illness, and mental health issues are too often perceived to be a function of aging rather than related to impairment. Males were more readily aware of the local services while females were more consistently interested in peer support measures for support. Consumer input is vital in order to ensure services are relevant and timely. Findings provide input for the development of relevant services to target the mental health needs of older adults living in rural communities.

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