Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration

General Considerations | Community and Faith-Based Approaches

General Considerations

American Psychological Association. (2005). The critical need for psychologists in rural America. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/gr/education/rural-need.aspx 

The American Psychological Association provides information on the barriers that rural Americans face in accessing psychological care.

Roberts, L., Battaglia, J., & Epstein, R. (1999). Frontier ethics: Mental health care needs and ethical dilemmas in rural communities. Psychiatric Services, 50, 497–503. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://ps.psychiatryonline.org/article.aspx?articleID=82702

This article describes attributes of rural and isolated communities that affect mental health care delivery to people in these areas. The author provides vignettes illustrating dilemmas that may be encountered in rural and frontier areas and outlines approaches to these ethical dilemmas.

Sawyer, D., Gale, J., & Lambert, D. (2006). Rural and frontier mental and behavioral health care: Barriers, effective policy strategies, best practices. Waite Park, MN: National Association for Rural Mental Health. Retrieved October 18, 2010, from http://www.narmh.org/publications/archives/rural_frontier.pdf [PDF - 320 KB]

This report is derived from a series of unstructured interviews with mental and behavioral health providers, as well as from responses provided by members of the National Association for Rural Mental Health. The report focuses on barriers to behavioral health service delivery, model programs and policy strategies, and the role that telehealth and State and local organizations should play in service delivery.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2002, April). Rural communities and emergency preparedness. Rockville, MD: Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/RuralPreparedness.pdf [PDF - 318 KB]

This paper addresses rural public health infrastructure and provides an overview of rural emergency preparedness. It also highlights perspectives and experiences of the State Offices of Rural Health in responding to emergencies.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2005). Mental health and rural America: 1994–2005. Rockville, MD: Office of Rural Health Policy, Health Resources and Services Administration. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from ftp://ftp.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/RuralMentalHealth.pdf [PDF - 1.30 MB]

This paper provides a comprehensive summary of the mental health issues in rural and frontier America, including an overview of rural life, an epidemiological overview of mental health and substance abuse in rural America, organizational and clinical issues, and suggestions for addressing rural mental health challenges.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Rural Health Policy. (2011). Rural behavioral health programs and promising practices. Retrieved from http://www.hrsa.gov/ruralhealth/pdf/ruralbehavioralmanual05312011.pdf [PDF - 861KB]

Published in June 2011 by the Office of Rural Health Policy within the Health Resources and Services Administration of the U. S. Department of Health and Human Services, this document describes characteristics of programs identified as promising practices throughout the country. The descriptions of these programs can be found in Appendix C of the document.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (1999). Disaster mental health: Crisis counseling programs for the rural community. Retrieved from http://www.samhsa.gov/dtac/FederalResource/Response/7-Crisis_Counseling_Rural_Communites.pdf [PDF - 1.74 MB]

This SAMHSA publication addresses the unique qualities of rural communities in the context of a crisis counseling program. Guidelines are provided for developing an effective crisis counseling program for rural areas.

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Community and Faith-Based Approaches

Association of Professional Chaplains. (2006). Guidelines for coping with disaster and mass casualty [Tip sheet]. Retrieved from http://012511a.membershipsoftware.org/files/news/guidelines_coping_disaster_mass_casualty.pdf [PDF - 65.9 KB]

This tip sheet is for first responders working with faith-based organizations. It will assist individuals and organizations in coping during a crisis.

Brock, S., & Campbell, C. (2005). Crisis intervention in rural communities: A cultural catch-22. Journal of Rural Community Psychology, E8. Retrieved from http://www.marshall.edu/jrcp/8_1_Bock_Campbell.htm

This article from the online Journal of Rural Community Psychology describes the difficulties mental health practitioners face when providing mental health care in rural communities in the aftermath of a traumatic event. Recommendations are provided for training local service personnel as well as for increasing cultural awareness among mental health practitioners.

National Rural Behavioral Health Center. (2004). Triumph over tragedy: A community response to managing trauma in times of disaster and terrorism. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida. Retrieved October 18, 2010, from http://nrbhc.phhp.ufl.edu/disaster/triumph-over-tragedy/pdf/TriumphOverTragedy.pdf [PDF - 2.04 MB]

This manual provides an overview of psychological reactions to disasters from an individual and community perspective and addresses the unique needs of rural America. It is intended to be used as a comprehensive resource for pre- and post-disaster response education or as a resource kit for immediate community response.

Santibañez, S. (2007, December). Faith-based organizations and pandemic preparedness: Church-related groups will be vital partners in getting ready for an influenza pandemic. Health Progress, 1–6. Washington, DC: Catholic Health Association of the United States. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://www.hhs.gov/partnerships/resources/preparedness.pdf [PDF - 400 KB]

This article provides an explanation of what pandemic influenza is and the role of faith- and community-based organizations in preparing and responding to the needs of the public.

Smith, H., & Allison, R. (1998). Telemental health: Delivering mental health care at a distance; A summary report. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and Health Resources and Services Administration. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://www.itechresults.com/images/mental.pdf [PDF - 473 KB]

This summary report explores the applications, accomplishments, and benefits of telemental health systems, specifically as they impact service delivery to people with serious mental illnesses in rural areas.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2003). Developing cultural competence in disaster mental health programs: Guiding principles and recommendations (DHHS Publication No. SMA 03–3828). Rockville, MD: Center for Mental Health Services, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved October 18, 2010, from http://store.samhsa.gov/shin/content//SMA03-3828/SMA03-3828.pdf [PDF - 871 KB]

This guide is intended to assist rural States and communities with planning, designing, and implementing culturally competent behavioral health services following a disaster.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2008). Successful strategies for recruiting, training, and utilizing volunteers: A guide for faith- and community-based service providers (DHHS Publication No. SMA 08-4005). Rockville, MD: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Retrieved February 3, 2009, from http://store.samhsa.gov/product/SMA08-4005

This handbook explains the role and importance of volunteerism in communities. It focuses on prevention, treatment, and recovery services for substance abuse and mental illnesses and is intended for community groups and faith-based organizations that seek to maximize the skills of their volunteers, expand their services to the community, and enhance their effectiveness.

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