title: A rural mental health research agenda: defining context and setting priorities.
abstract: This article provides a brief overview of research perspectives on rural mental health services and suggests the importance of building an agenda to bring coherence to studies in this area. The need for sound theory and methodology to guide research is emphasized. The importance of better conceptualization of the rural context as a focus of research is addressed, and 14 propositions concerning issues the authors think will advance rural research are presented. This article is intended to stimulate discussion about a research agenda that will lead to better understanding of rural needs for mental health services as well as more responsive service models.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, Mansfield University, PA 16933, USA. pkeller@mnsfld.edu
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: D S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Hargrove
mesh_terms: D006292:Health Priorities; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D008605:Mental Health Services; D019035:Rural Health Services; D012944:Social Support; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology