The effect of context in rural mental health care: Understanding integrated services in a small town

Coordinating Mental and Physical Health Care in Rural Australia: An Integrated Model for Primary Care Settings

“…However, our findings suggest a level of acceptability of the GP Clinic for patients with this diagnosis. In addition, it is often difficult for individuals living with psychotic disorders to receive appropriate physical health care due to inequalities in medical care in rural settings [15]. Hence, an additional benefit of the GP Clinic is that it provides appropriate services to this vulnerable group who otherwise may be unable to access primary care.…”

“…There is little research that has examined successful integrated service models for people with severe and persistent mental illness. However in rural Australia, where policy, health systems, and alignment of incentives favour normal ‘fragmented’ services, the analysis of well-established service models is informative and can be used to inform innovative integrated service design and delivery [15]. This paper is novel because it examines integrated care in an established mainstream rural service developed without additional pilot funding or changes in systems or incentives.…”

Through our lens: Experiences of adult mental health service consumers in the Arrow Lakes Region of British Columbia

“…Individuals living in rural and/or remote contexts across the world experience barriers to equitable healthcare (Fitzpatrick, Perkins, Luland, Brown & Corvan, 2017;Handley et al, 2014;Kelly et al, 2010;Morling & Boxall, 2014;Procter & Ferguson, 2014;Robinson et al, 2012;Ryan-Nicholls & Haggarty, 2007;Singh, 2017). In this chapter, I provide an overview of the rural and/or remote realities of mental health showcased in international, Canadian, and British Columbian literature.…”

“…To exemplify this point, I turn to the existing literature on rural and remote mental health. Existing literature on rural and remote mental health notes lack of transportation and proximity to mental health care and related social programming as barriers to adequate community mental healthcare (Fitzpatrick, Perkins, Luland, Brown & Corvan, 2017;Handley et al, 2014;Kelly et al, 2010;Morling & Boxall, 2014;Procter & Ferguson, 2014;Robinson et al, 2012;Ryan-Nicholls & Haggarty, 2007;Singh, 2017). As previously outlined in this section, local governments are typically responsible for providing and advocating for localized services, including social programming and public transit (Government of British Columbia, 2018a; Government of British Columbia, 2018b).…”

“…Australia's scholarly conversations of rural and remote mental health focus on exploring and addressing healthcare accessibility issues, differences between urban and rural mental health, barriers faced by service consumers and their families, and the feasibility of stakeholder-centered healthcare reform (Fitzpatrick, Perkins, Luland, Brown & Corvan, 2017;Handley et al, 2014;Kelly et al, 2010;Morling & Boxall, 2014;Procter & Ferguson, 2014).…”