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Succeeding in Rural Mental Health Practice: Being Sensitive to Culture by Fitting in and Collaborating

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Abstract

Sustainable solutions to the access to mental health care problems are complex and must address both the availability of mental health care resources and the acceptability of those resources to consumers. The purpose of this study was to determine how to address the acceptability problem by learning from medical and mental health care providers what mental health therapists need to know to be successful in providing care in rural communities. Using a qualitative design, focus groups were conducted in three rural communities (<2,500) with medical and mental health care providers practicing in these communities. Data were analyzed using inductive qualitative methods. Results indicate that in addition to sound clinical skill, mental health therapists should (A) be sensitive to the culture of the rural community in which they are working and (B) practice in a way that accommodates to the care culture of the community. The latter includes spending time with patients commensurate with what is expected by other providers, engaging in generalist practice, and collaborating with local providers in patient care. An important implication of these results is that mental health care must be acceptable to both the residents of the community and the gatekeepers to health care.

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Acknowledgments

This research was supported by the Kelly Fund of the University of Nebraska Foundation and through a NIFA Higher Education Challenge Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Child, Youth and Family Studies, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, PO Box 880236, Lincoln, NE, 68588-0236, USA

    Richard J. Bischoff

  2. Marriage and Family Therapy Program, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, NE, USA

    Allison M. J. Reisbig, Paul R. Springer & Sheena Schultz

  3. Department of Family Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA

    Michael Olson

  4. Marriage and Family Therapy Program, Utah State University, Logan, UT, USA

    W. David Robinson

Authors
  1. Richard J. Bischoff
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  2. Allison M. J. Reisbig
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  3. Paul R. Springer
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  4. Sheena Schultz
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  5. W. David Robinson
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  6. Michael Olson
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Correspondence to Richard J. Bischoff.

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Bischoff, R.J., Reisbig, A.M.J., Springer, P.R. et al. Succeeding in Rural Mental Health Practice: Being Sensitive to Culture by Fitting in and Collaborating. Contemp Fam Ther 36, 1–16 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-013-9287-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10591-013-9287-x

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