Chasing Sources in a Rural County

So I’m chasing a mental health story, with the goal being to explore the potential barriers to accessing services in rural areas. My first step is to find people who are willing to talk to me about their experiences. As most would guess, this is particularly difficult due to the stigma that so often surrounds the topic.

Being out in rural county with no publicly-funded mental health services seems to be both a blessing and a detriment. For one, it means that there is no one location I can go to gather information. But that’s okay, given the number of stakeholders and players in the mental health world. I’ll explain this further later, but first some more benefits and detriments.

One benefit is that if I’m not going to a mental health facility, which is a medical facility, HIPPA laws don’t apply (though there are some other confidentiality laws, such as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act, IDEIA, that protects children receiving special education services).

Another benefit of a small town, which I discussed in an earlier blog, is the way information travels. Parole Officer Benjamin Nunley both joked and was half serious that because he was born, raised, and married in Danielsville, he was related to a good portion of the town either through blood or by marriage. I’m hoping my name and number will get out there by being passed from person to person.

Another detriment seems to be the effect of rural culture and lower socioeconomic status that results in an increased stigma surrounding mental illness or lack of awareness of mental health wellbeing. PO Nunley said that it’s not rare to find an elderly mom in the small towns in Madison County taking care of her adult son with mental illness, with no formal services being accessed.

So back to stakeholders and players in the mental health world. Here’s where I’ve started and where I will go:

*I’ve already made a visit to the Madison County Parole Office, due to the disproportionately high numbers of incarcerated persons with mental illness.

*I’ve made contact with the Director of Student Services (in essence, the modern name for special education) in order to hopefully get my name to families of students eligible for special education under the category of “emotional disturbance” and the school psychologists.

* I’ve learned of a group home in Colbert that serves adults with mental health issues and mental retardation.

* I plan to go to the local medical clinics to talk with general physicians who may have had individuals with mental health concerns pass through their practices.

* I also plan to make a visit to the police department and emt’s, often first responders to incidents involving an “Emotionally Disturbed Person” (EDP).

All I need is one or two people to share. . . I’m crossing my fingers!

Please feel free to post any suggestions!