Utilizing technology to improve rural residents' access to mental health services

The disparities in access to health care services for residents of rural areas are well-documented. Many rural areas are primary care health professional shortage areas, and most are mental health professional shortage areas. Because accessing mental health services for a rural resident typically means taking a considerable amount of time from work and traveling a substantial distance to a provider's office, it is understandable why residents delay or forego seeking care for themselves and their families. In Leon County, Texas, the community identified access to mental health services as a priority through a local planning process. Through their collaboration with the Center for Community Health Development at the School of Rural Public Health, they connected with the Department of Educational Psychology at Texas A&M University, which operates a doctoral training program in counseling psychology. Funded by a Rural Health Network Development grant through the Office of Rural Health Policy at the Health Resources and Services Administration, the County began working with the University and a local hospital system to develop mental health services to be offered through an existing telehealth network. One primary factor in the success of this program was the clear benefit to everyone who participated. The County receives access to new services; the other service providers now have a point of referral; the community is able to get appropriate care; and the University is able to provide students with unique hands-on training both in counseling and in use of technology for service delivery.