What are some of the challenges to accessing and providing mental health services in rural areas?
Nearly half of the American population is affected by a mental disorder at some time in their lives and yet the misconceptions, myths, and cultural taboos associated with mental illness may be the most significant barriers that keep persons with mental disorders from seeking and receiving treatment in rural areas. Inadequate knowledge about mental illness, even in the medical profession; fear of and prejudice toward those with mental illness; and hesitancy on the part of people with mental illness to get treatment instill an atmosphere of disgrace and shame in some rural communities. This stigma combined with other challenges can prevent people with mental illness from seeking help. Because of their small size and close-knit society, rural communities are known for knowing everybody and everybody’s business. Often news gets back into a community before the newsmaker. Cars parked outside of a mental health clinic are recognizable and patients in passing will recognize each other. Famili
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