Accessing Mental Health in Rural Communities
I grew up in a town of 700, including most household pets on the good days. The sunsets, backroads, bonfires, and connectedness are something you don't find in the city, or if you do, it's not the same. There is a beauty and camaraderie about small towns - the way that everyone pulls together in the face of community hardships - many of which my town experienced while I was in school or my brothers were in school. They say that tragedy can either tear people and families apart, or it makes them stronger than they were before it happened; in my town, I’d like to think the latter.
While small towns and communities have many benefits, there are also some downsides. Sometimes there is a lack of diversity among people, making it difficult to see other people’s perspectives. Or there may be a lack of services - only a few doctors, no access to mental health, long waits, and few options for shopping.
It is estimated that young adults and teens spend around 20-25 hours weekly in front of a screen, including television, social media, phones, and texting. Because of this, tele-health is becoming more and more popular and more effective in reaching people in these small communities. Growing up, there were many services that we had to drive 45 minutes to an hour for. Things like Target, serious surgeries, hospitalizations, movies and other extra-curricular activities were only accessible many miles away, only to name a few. You may not be able to do anything about your broken arm over a video conference, but you are now able to access mental health services...and it's working.
Accessing mental health services? Not only did no one talk about this, but many people in rural communities don’t have the ability to drive an hour or so to get this help. They can’t financially take off work, find a babysitter, and have someone pick up their kids from school to simply talk to a therapist about how to handle conflict in their marriage, manage their anxiety, or work through grief. Other barriers may include knowing everyone or almost everyone in the town and feeling afraid that everyone will know my business. Tele-health is confidential. No one is going to see your car parked outside of the therapist’s driveway on Main Street.
Tele-health means three things:
You can meet with a licensed professional online from a computer or phone screen.
The website is HIPAA compliant and is a secure method of communication.
You save gas money, sitter money, and 3 hours of your time commuting to the session.
In my work, many of my clients put everyone else in front of themselves. I did this for a number of years myself! You may put your kids, your spouse, your relative and even your pet in front of your own needs. While this is so very helpful for everyone, it often leaves us feeling many of the following:
Empty
Drained
Exhausted
Constantly worrying
Nervous
Depressed
Unfulfilled
Difficulty sleeping
The saying “You can’t pour from an empty cup” applies to all of this. If we don’t sometimes take the time to take care of ourselves, we will have nothing else to give those that we care so much about.
Q: Who is this for?
A: This is for the adult who doesn't have time to make the trip to see a therapist or can't afford to take off work. This is for the college student in a different city struggling with anxiety, depression, relationship issues, or finding their purpose. This is for the teen still in high school who now doesn't have to drive an hour to learn emotional regulation. This is for you and your family.
Robin Helget, LMSW, CPT
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