Addressing Mental Health Needs in Rural and Indigenous Communities: Serving People on Their Terms

Historically, the suicide rates in rural and Indigenous communities have been disproportionately high. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, stigma, mental health workforce shortages, and the diminished health care infrastructure in rural and remote regions have only amplified this trend. Fortunately, several innovative and culturally responsive approaches have been developed in the context of these communities to address these persisting mental health disparities. Two specific approaches, embedded school mental health partnerships and telehealth solutions, are described in detail in this article. Both examples have shown considerable promise in stemming the tide of these sobering epidemiological trends in rural and Indigenous communities.