Rural disability, self-reliance, and the utilization of mental health services

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research
• Disability Studies

Background:

• Utilization of mental health services (MHS) among adults with disabilities, particularly concerning rurality and self-reliance values, remains under-researched.
• Significant disparities exist in perceived and unmet needs for MHS within diverse disability populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in unmet need and no perceived need for MHS among adults with disabilities residing in noncore, micropolitan, and metropolitan areas.
• To identify demographic and socioeconomic factors associated with varying perceptions of MHS need in adults with disabilities.

Main Methods:

• Logistic regression analyses were performed using data from the 2022 National Survey on Health and Disability (NSHD).
• Associations between demographic characteristics and the likelihood of reporting unmet need or no perceived need for MHS were examined.

Main Results:

• Factors like rural living, male gender, lower education, older age, and specific disabilities (vision, ambulatory) increased the odds of reporting no perceived need for MHS.
• Conversely, identifying as LGBTQIA+, poor transportation, and cognitive disability decreased the odds of reporting no perceived need for MHS.
• Cognitive disability, cohabitation, and transportation challenges were linked to increased odds of unmet MHS need, while male gender and some college education decreased these odds.

Conclusions:

• "No perceived need" for MHS is a significant, underexplored barrier for adults with disabilities, irrespective of their location (rural/urban).
• Addressing these disparities requires policy interventions to improve MHS access, targeted public health campaigns, and enhanced provider communication training.