Barriers to Seeking Mental Health Care in Rural Communities: An Empirical Exploration in Minnesota and Wisconsin
By Carina Hebl, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, USA, carina.hebl@gmail.com | Kingshuk K. Sinha, Carlson School of Management, University of Minnesota, USA, ksinha@umn.edu
Abstract
Individuals living in primarily rural settings face large inequities in health care access, especially for mental health care. There are several possible factors that may influence an individual’s likelihood to seek out and receive mental health care, including affordability, access, awareness, and stigma. This study aims to discover the impact of these factors that may cause an individual needing emotional help to delay or postpone care, and focuses on a self-reported assessment of individuals located in the Northeast Arrowhead Region of Minnesota and Douglas County, Wisconsin to determine the strength of different barriers and differences between individuals that may explain why one individual would delay seeking out mental health care while another would seek out this care. Results show that awareness is the primary reason that individuals delay care, with access being the least common. Various demographic variables were measured, and analysis found, among other results, that non-white individuals are more likely to delay care than white individuals, Duluth respondents are more likely to delay mental health care than those in neighboring counties (including the rest of St. Louis County), and that young and middle-aged adults face higher stigma in delaying mental health care as compared to senior citizens.
Lessons from the Pandemic for Healthcare Operations
Lessons from the Pandemic for Healthcare Operations delves into the lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic that can be applied to the post-pandemic world to enhance efficiency, equity, and fairness in healthcare operations. It emphasizes the importance of preparedness in combating future pandemics or public health disasters, regardless of when or where they may occur. This work offers a unique perspective through which to view the evolving outlines of healthcare delivery, policy, and research. This is illustrated using several real-world experiences, empirical studies, and forward-looking insights. The contributions fall under three broad themes: the management of policies and funding in healthcare, the role of data and data-driven research, and accessible healthcare services during and after the pandemic.
Companion
Foundations and Trends® in Technology, Information and Operations Management, Volume 19, Issue 2-3 Special Issue: Lessons from the Pandemic for Healthcare Operations
See the other articles that are also part of this special issue.