Rural Faith Community Leaders and Mental Health Center Staff: Identifying Opportunities to Bridge the Gap
Isaac Baldwin, Medical Student, University of Kansas School of Medicine
Rural communities are often underserved in terms of mental health care due to a variety of challenges including both population and health care system factors. Many individuals throughout the country seek out clergy for help with mental health problems. Lack of access to mental health providers along with high rates of religiosity in rural communities make this especially common in these areas. In fact, in many rural communities, faith community leaders act as de facto mental health care providers. Both faith leaders and mental health providers have recognized this dynamic, and have created various interventions meant to bridge an evident gap between the two groups. However, without data regarding efficacy and feasibility of such programs in rural communities, it is difficult to determine which of these interventions should be utilized, if any. Past research has identified specific factors that affect the relationship between mental health professionals and faith community leaders.
The present project lays a foundation for future intervention by identifying and evaluating some of these factors from the perspective of the stakeholders who would be most directly involved in the implementation of such programs. Surveys were completed by 160 participants including 90 mental health center staff (MHCS) and 70 faith community leaders (FCLs) throughout 20 rural counties in Kansas. Likert-scale evaluation of factors identified from previous studies were assessed for their correlation with participants’ reported openness to intervention. The study also identifies specific needs for intervention, methods of encouraging participation, and possible obstacles to interventions as described by both MHCS and FCLs in open-ended questions. A thematic analysis of open-ended questions yielded six major themes encompassing a multitude of specific factors: Communication, Perceptions of Sensitivity, Perceptions of Efficacy, Availability of Resources, Knowledge, and Trust. These themes encompass a variety of insights that provide a basis for future unique interventions meant to foster communication and cooperation between mental health centers and faith communities in rural areas.
The present project lays a foundation for future intervention by identifying and evaluating some of these factors from the perspective of the stakeholders who would be most directly involved in the implementation of such programs. Surveys were completed by 160 participants including 90 mental health center staff (MHCS) and 70 faith community leaders (FCLs) throughout 20 rural counties in Kansas. Likert-scale evaluation of factors identified from previous studies were assessed for their correlation with participants’ reported openness to intervention. The study also identifies specific needs for intervention, methods of encouraging participation, and possible obstacles to interventions as described by both MHCS and FCLs in open-ended questions. A thematic analysis of open-ended questions yielded six major themes encompassing a multitude of specific factors: Communication, Perceptions of Sensitivity, Perceptions of Efficacy, Availability of Resources, Knowledge, and Trust. These themes encompass a variety of insights that provide a basis for future unique interventions meant to foster communication and cooperation between mental health centers and faith communities in rural areas.