Providing mental health services for men in rural areas

Abstract

Rural men experience more health risk factors, poorer health, and higher death rates than rural women (Ziembroski & Breiding, 2006). They also, by virtue of the fact that they live in rural areas, have less access to health services. Of particular concern are their reported poorer levels of mental health and higher rates of suicide. Issues identified by rural men as being of particular concern include isolation, stigma, lack of employment opportunities, lack of confidence in the future, few leisure activities, boredom, and limited transportation options (Quine et al., 2003). This chapter reports on the research in the literature, as well as that of the authors, focusing on the characteristics of rural men and their mental health, provision of services for this special population, considerations of best practices, and future opportunities for research and scholarly inquiry.