Chad Reznicek knows all too well the stigma surrounding mental health in rural Colorado. A behavioral health specialist with the Colorado AgrAbility Project, Reznicek noted that communities remain tightly knit in small towns, and it’s not uncommon for everyone to know each other’s business. Residents, he said, are wary of seeking help precisely because they fear being judged, particularly when that judgment could potentially jeopardize entire livelihoods.
But it’s not just the stigma that acts as a barrier to access, a confluence of factors has made rural Colorado a “mental health desert.” There are fewer mental health facilities in rural Colorado, and it’s tougher to persuade a practitioner to give up the convenience of city living and move to a town far away.
According to the Colorado Rural Health Center, there is one mental health provider for every 1,282 residents in rural Colorado, compared to one for every 755 residents in urban areas. One of the obvious reasons is the population weight across the state. Census data shows that rural Colorado has nearly 80% of the state’s land but only about 14% of its population.
In many rural parts of Colorado, it’s not uncommon to have to travel several miles to reach a neighbor’s house and even farther to access the nearest medical provider. Patients seeking mental health care in some regions may have to drive several towns away to reach a clinic, which can be impractical or even impossible for many. The way experts put it, these factors have created a perfect storm — communities struggle with limited mental health services, exacerbated by the pervasive stigma surrounding mental illness.
Many have looked to technology to help the gap in rural areas. Telemedicine, for example, has grown significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, and it offers a promising option for patients in remote areas. But it’s not a universal solution precisely because broadband access remains a significant issue in rural Colorado, with more than a dozen counties reporting nearly a quarter of the population lacking at-home internet service.
One in five rural Coloradans reported experiencing depression, based on data from the Colorado Rural Health Center. House attributed this figure to the unique pressures of agricultural work, compounded by some level of isolation of rural living, as well as the financial strain and supply chain disruptions brought on by the pandemic.
Help is available for those who need it and are ready to seek treatment, experts and others emphasized. Organizations, including the Colorado Department of Agriculture, Colorado State University Extension, Farm Bureau Foundation, and the Colorado Office of Behavioral Health, oversee a program that provides vouchers to agricultural workers and their families for six free telehealth therapy sessions. Numerous legislative efforts at both the federal and state levels have sought to increase access to mental health care in rural communities. The Rural Wellness Act, introduced by U.S. Reps. Yadira Caraveo of Colorado and Brad Finstad of Minnesota would reauthorize the USDA’s Distance Learning and Telemedicine Program, which provides grants to help rural communities implement technology projects, such as telemedicine treatment for substance use disorders.
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