Rural communities of America have developed resilience to various socioeconomic challenges that have become part of their lives. These socioeconomic problems have contributed to the prevalence of mental illness among rural identities such that there is an obvious dimensional overlap. However, despite the rates of mental health in rural areas being similar to those in metropolitan areas, they are persistent in the former as the innovative resolution approaches are insufficient. The correct term to describe the rural communities would be underserved and disenfranchised populations, given the gaps in accessing healthcare resources pertaining to mental health. Given how minorities are the most affected, it is significant that approaches like sufficient housing, support communities and networks, culturally sensitive treatment, and equal access to employment opportunities be developed to address the behavioral and structural barriers that make it difficult for these groups to receive efficient and effective mental health services.
Secure and appropriate housing can solve the majority of problems affecting rural communities apart from mental health issues, as highlighted herein. According to Fossey, Harvey, and McDermott (2020), housing ensures the well-being of people with mental health issues since it promotes recovery while catering to basic human rights. Besides, housing does not only mean a roof over your head but having family or friends come together to create a social system that is significant to promoting mental health and wellness. Considering how people with mental health may fall back into their older habits, it is significant that the type of housing provided is under an emphasis of flexible outreach support. This type of housing means that support staff can check in consultation with a clinically trained counselor using the flexible outreach approach. Subsequently, allowing people to have a choice and control of their living arrangements, residential stability and qualities like safety impacts mental health and well-being (Fossey, Harvey, and McDermott, 2020). By meeting the housing requirements, the social and economic issues would have been solved simultaneously to impact mental health and wellness.
Support communities and networks will contribute to the overall objective of ensuring that community members receive enough support to open up and feel confident to share with the rest about their mental health. Minority groups like LGBTQ can benefit from support communities and networks as they are likely to feel more comfortable among their own kind as they perceive peers to have the same experience as theirs. As noted in the course, LGBT is more likely to face acceptance challenges as not so many people are welcoming to the idea of other sexuality. The acceptance rates in the communities are extremely low because of pre-existing beliefs, personal values, and religious beliefs. Having a support system in place can contribute to mental health and well-being through the willingness they are willing to show with regard to accepting professional counseling services when brought to them. Again, these support communities should show that professionals are sensitive to the marginalization existing of minorities like LGBTQ and other ethnic communities residing in underserved areas of America.
Cultural sensitivity is another area that is often overlooked, even with its significant effect on treatment outcomes. For instance, Native Americans hold their culture in high regard because it is part of their history and their daily lives. Showing insensitivity to their cultural beliefs in areas of “Two-Spirit,” an equivalent of LGBTQ, will lead to reluctance to seek treatment and hence increased rates of mental health issues. Other communities also value their culture, including language, and they expect people from outside of it to uphold and respect it. Cultural competence is not enough to iron out issues surrounding culture because it is a form of theoretical knowledge about culture and other few excesses (Curtis et al., 2019). Showing cultural sensitivity through cultural awareness and humility can improve mental health and well-being by showing that the professional has respect for their culture and that the institution of counseling is culturally safe for them. As a general rule, effectiveness begins when patients volunteer and shows a willingness to receive treatment.
Granting equal access to employment is a strategy for addressing discrimination rampant in minority groups living in rural and underserved areas of America. For instance, the LGBTQ community is often discriminated against in the majority of services, and studies show that, for this reason, they are expected to experience poorer mental health compared to their heterosexual counterparts (Moagi et al., 2021). With limited access to resources, including employment opportunities, their welfare may be challenged, and mental health issues will be imminent. Therefore, psychological processes are hindered while healthy relationships are just projections, and living a fulfilled life becomes a dream for the minority in rural areas. Granting equal employment opportunities will also mean that the group’s socioeconomic well-being is catered to as they can afford resources to seek health care services. Again, it will have shown the willingness of society to accommodate them and hence be willing to cooperate with professionals seeking to create support networks through community members who can seek mental health services.
In conclusion, mental health services can be of great efficiency if issues surrounding sufficient housing, support communities and networks, culturally sensitive treatment, and equal access to employment opportunities are addressed in rural communities of America. While a 100% rate is not guaranteed, some of the strategies described herein can increase the willingness and acceptance rates among the minority groups living in these underserved areas. As noted, professionals can only collaborate with the community members if they consider the services safe and supportive rather than contributing to their problems. Therefore, counselors and support resources working in underserved communities should work to resolve underlying issues before seeking to provide actual mental health services.
References
Curtis, E., Jones, R., Tipene-Leach, D., Walker, C., Loring, B., Paine, S. J., & Reid, P. (2019). Why cultural safety rather than cultural competency is required to achieve health equity: a literature review and recommended definition. International journal for equity in health, 18(1), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12939-019-1082-3
Fossey, E., Harvey, C., & McDermott, F. (2020). Housing and support narratives of people experiencing mental health issues: making my place, my home. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 10, 939. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00939
Moagi, M. M., van Der Wath, A. E., Jiyane, P. M., & Rikhotso, R. S. (2021). Mental health challenges of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people: An integrated literature review. Health SA = SA Gesondheid, 26, 1487. https://doi.org/10.4102/hsag.v26i0.1487
Mongelli, F., Georgakopoulos, P., & Pato, M. T. (2020). Challenges and Opportunities to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Underserved and Disenfranchised Populations in the United States. Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing), 18(1), 16–24. https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.focus.20190028
write