title: The Perceived Stigma of Mental Health Services Among Rural Parents of Children With Psychosocial Concerns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine parents' perceptions of stigma regarding mental health services for their child, consider stigma in the context of novel service delivery settings (e.g., telehealth, primary care, and schools), and evaluate stigma with other factors known to influence service access.
  
  
  METHODS
  347 caregivers of children with psychosocial concerns completed surveys regarding their perceptions of stigma, service delivery settings, and barriers to care.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Parents endorsed low levels of stigma around services. Greater perceived stigma was related to less willingness to seek services in a mental/behavioral health center or schools but not in other settings, even when other barriers were considered. Having a younger child and a history of prior services was associated with greater willingness to seek services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Stigma does appear to present as a barrier, but only for some parents. Providing mental health services to young children and their parents in some nontraditional settings may increase access.
authors.affiliation: Department of Family Medicine and polaha@etsu.edu.
authors.forename: Jodi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polaha
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, East Tennessee State University.
authors.forename: Stacey L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.affiliation: Department of Human and Organizational Development, Vanderbilt University, and.
authors.forename: Craig Anne
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Heflinger
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Behavior, University of Kentucky.
authors.forename: Christina R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Studts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017028:Caregivers; D002648:Child; D002653:Child Behavior Disorders / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010290:Parents / Q000523:psychology*; D010465:Perception; D011320:Primary Health Care; D012424:Rural Population; D012574:Schools; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D017216:Telemedicine
keywords: integrated care; rural mental health; school mental health; stigma; telehealth