What Role Can Community Health Workers Play in Connecting Rural Women with Depression to the “De Facto” Mental Health Care System?

Claire Snell-Rood, Frances Feltner, Nancy Schoenberg

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

The prevalence of depression among rural women is nearly twice the national average, yet limited mental health services and extensive social barriers restrict access to needed treatment. We conducted key informant interviews with community health workers (CHWs) and diverse health care professionals who provide care to Appalachian women with depression to better understand the potential roles that CHWs may play to improve women’s treatment engagement. In the gap created by service disparities and social barriers, CHWs can offer a substantial contribution through improving recognition of depression; deepening rural women’s engagement within existing services; and offering sustained, culturally appropriate support.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)63-73
Number of pages11
JournalCommunity Mental Health Journal
Volume55
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 31 2019

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2018, Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.

Funding

Acknowledgements The funding was supported by National Insti‑ tutes of Health (Grant No. CTSA UL1TR000117), Office of Research on Women’s Health (Grant No. K12 DA035150) and University of Kentucky Department of Behavioral Science. This research would not have been possible without the valuable perspectives of all of the participants who made time to share their expertise with us. Wayne Noble′s talents were critical for coordinating the study and other col‑ leagues at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health offered vital feed‑ back on interpreting the findings. We appreciate the insights of the editor and anonymous reviewers to strengthen the manuscript. The funding was supported by National Institutes of Health (Grant No. CTSA UL1TR000117), Office of Research on Women's Health (Grant No. K12 DA035150) and University of Kentucky Department of Behavioral Science. This research would not have been possible without the valuable perspectives of all of the participants who made time to share their expertise with us. Wayne Noble′s talents were critical for coordinating the study and other colleagues at the Center of Excellence in Rural Health offered vital feedback on interpreting the findings. We appreciate the insights of the editor and anonymous reviewers to strengthen the manuscript.

FundersFunder number
National Insti-tutes of Health
University of Kentucky Department of Behavioral Science
National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Office of Research on Women's HealthK12 DA035150
National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences (NCATS)UL1TR000117

    Keywords

    • Community health worker
    • Depression
    • Rural
    • Women

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Health(social science)
    • Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
    • Psychiatry and Mental health

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'What Role Can Community Health Workers Play in Connecting Rural Women with Depression to the “De Facto” Mental Health Care System?'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this