Intergenerational and Familial Influences on Mental Illness in Rural Settings and Their Relevance for School Mental Health

Overcoming Barriers to Effective Suicide Prevention in Rural Communities

“…It is not an uncommon perception in small communities that disclosing personal health information to a medical or mental health professional is unnecessary, unhelpful, or a sign of being disloyal to the family (Owens et al, 2013). Similarly, individuals from rural areas have also reported that receiving conventional mental health care signals weakness or indicates that one has spiritual flaws (Curtin et al, 2017).Easy access to lethal means, primarily firearms and dangerous medications, also makes it difficult to prevent suicide in rural regions. Between 1999 and 2019, the leading mechanism of suicide for youth aged 10-19 living in the least populous…”

“…It is not an uncommon perception in small communities that disclosing personal health information to a medical or mental health professional is unnecessary, unhelpful, or a sign of being disloyal to the family (Owens et al, 2013). Similarly, individuals from rural areas have also reported that receiving conventional mental health care signals weakness or indicates that one has spiritual flaws (Curtin et al, 2017).…”