WICHE Center for Rural Mental Health Research

Current Projects

Addressing Suicide Potential and Prevention in Rural and Frontier Areas and Development of a Suicide-Prevention Training Protocol
Depression and suicide are especially relevant today in rural areas. This project will determine rural high-risk suicide areas, and develop a suicide prevention training protocol for primary care providers in these rural areas.
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topic: Mental health

Assessment of the Mental Health Funding Marketplace in Rural vs. Urban Settings
This study will use nationally representative data to assess how mental health (MH) services are paid for in rural areas and determine differences in payment sources between rural and urban areas. If payment sources significantly vary in rural vs. urban settings, then policies that are aimed specifically at sources of funding may have a differential impact on subsequent access to and utilization of care and point to the need for policies that are specifically targeted to rural communities.
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Health care financing, Mental health

Rural-Urban Differences In The Use, Type, And Quality Of Depression Treatment
As access to evidence-based treatment for affective disorders (major depressive disorder, dysthymia, and bipolar disorder) improves in urban areas, it is critical to monitor rural-urban differences in the use and quality of treatment over time to identify and address rural disparities, especially for vulnerable populations such as the elderly and ethnic minorities.
Funder: Office of Rural Health Policy (ORHP)
Topics: Aging, Health disparities, Mental health, Minority health