As patients in rural areas struggle to access healthcare, 95 percent of rural mental health professionals admitted they are unable to meet their patients' mental health needs, while 90 percent noted a difficulty to recruit and retain qualified professionals, according to a survey conducted by Muncie, Ind.-based Ball State University.
To determine rural mental health professionals' perspectives on workforce issues, the researchers sent a questionnaire to 100 practicing mental health professionals across rural Indiana.
Here are seven survey findings.
1. The study revealed the inability to pay competitive wages or offer professional development opportunities were among the central reasons why rural communities faced difficulty hiring qualified mental health professionals.
2. The majority of respondents said mental health issues in their communities are not well researched and there are not accurate assessments of how many mentally ill patients they serve.
3. Nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of respondents feel the government should play a significant role in recruiting and retaining mental health professionals.
4. When comparing to the state average for cost and access of care, over one-third of respondents believe the cost of care is high and access is low for mental healthcare in their community.
5. On average, patients in respondents' practice areas have to travel over 25 miles to access a qualified psychiatrist or specialty care.
6. Nearly all (95 percent) of respondents said their local health departments are not sufficiently involved in providing mental healthcare.
7. Additionally, for one in three respondents, opioid and drug abuse was cited as the chief concern in their practice area.