title: Shortages of rural mental health professionals.
abstract: This study presents a conceptual model of the supply and demand for mental health professionals. It uses national data to profile differences in the supply of mental health professionals in different types of rural and urban areas. It contrasts the availability of general health and mental health professionals. It examines shortage areas identified in 2000 and their related community characteristics. Because of the absence of data on a national level to describe many types of mental health professionals state licensure data for one state were used to show the volume and distribution of these practitioners. To improve rural mental health service delivery it will be necessary to implement system changes to promote the increased availability, competency, and support of rural health professionals.
authors.affiliation: University of Virginia, Southeastern Rural Mental Health Research Center, VA, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Merwin
authors.forename: Ivora
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Hinton
authors.forename: Bruce
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dembling
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stern
mesh_terms: D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D008605:Mental Health Services; D017146:Models, Organizational; D020380:Needs Assessment / Q000458:organization & administration; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011365:Professional Practice Location; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D019035:Rural Health Services; D017749:Total Quality Management / Q000458:organization & administration; D014481:United States; D000078329:Workforce