Document Type

Honors Thesis

Major

Psychology

Advisor(s)

Jennifer Blossom

Committee Members

Patricia Goodhines, Jordan LaBouff

Graduation Year

May 2024

Publication Date

Spring 5-2024

Abstract

There are clear mental health treatment disparities between rural and urban communities, especially in accessing quality mental health care and youth suicide prevention services. In 2021, the CDC reported an increase in youth mental health concern rates and alarmingly, a rise in youth suicidality rates. Considering these trends, and that rural people already experience higher suicide rates, the status of caregivers’ readiness and ability to access mental health services for their children must be examined. The present study aimed to investigate how caregiver mental health stigma and knowledge drives rural-urban disparities in suicide rates and access to quality mental health and suicide prevention services. A secondary aim of the study is to evaluate the how differences in mental health literacy, stigma, and service availability between rural and urban communities drive past suicidality and self-injurious behaviors. To study these differences, a national sample of United States-based caregivers of children with mental health concerns were surveyed about mental health literacy, stigma beliefs, service access, and awareness of youth suicide risk. It is hypothesized that rural caregivers’ mental health literacy and service access will be lower than that of urban caregivers, while rural stigma beliefs will be higher. It is also predicted that lower levels of mental health literacy and higher levels of stigma contribute to higher rates of past suicidality and lower service access in rural regions. Results indicate that while rural regions do not see statistically significant differences in access, literacy, and stigma, these factors do indeed drive suicidality and self-injurious behaviors.

Download

Share